WellMed owner arrested on estafa charge

The National Bureau for Investigation on Monday arrested one of the owners of a healthcare provider over an alleged scheme involving deceased patients’ PhilHealth benefits.

Bryan Sy, one of the owners of WellMed Dialysis Center, was arrested on suspicion of estafa through falsification of documents, NBI public information office chief Nick Suarez confirmed.

The arrest was based on a complaint filed by PhilHealth after two former WellMed employees recently blew the whistle on the alleged scam, Suarez said.

“After careful evaluation, on those basis, the NBI found sufficient basis to effect the arrest of Mr. Bryan Sy,” he told reporters.

Sy is currently in NBI custody. Suarez said the WellMed owner will be transferred to the NBI’s detention facility after booking procedures are completed.

The bureau will file a complaint against Sy for estafa through falsification of documents and violation of the PhilHealth law within 36 hours, Suarez said.

He later said Sy will be presented for inquest proceedings Tuesday morning.

Earlier Monday afternoon, Sy appeared at NBI headquarters after being summoned for questioning. Former WellMed employees Edwin Roberto and Liezel Santos also showed up at the bureau, where they repeated their allegations.

Asked for the grounds for Sy’s arrest, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said: “NBI has to explain that during the inquest proceedings.”

Suarez said the NBI followed standard procedure in arresting Sy. — BM, GMA News