Guevarra forms task force to investigate anomalies at PhilHealth

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra has formed a task force that will investigate allegations of anomalies and corruption at the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

Upon the order of President Rodrigo Duterte, Guevarra will head the task force, which is composed of the Office of the Ombudsman, the Commission on Audit, the Civil Service Commission, and the Office of the President.

"Task Force PhilHealth" will tap the National Bureau of Investigation and the Anti-Money Laundering Council among other agencies for support, Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said Friday.

In a statement, Perete said the task force will look into reported anomalies at the state health insurer and its regional offices, speed up ongoing investigations and special audits, recommend necessary personnel movements, and examine PhilHealth's IT system.

The task force will also conduct lifestyle checks on key PhilHealth personnel and examine their financial transactions, Perete said.

The task force can file administrative and anti-graft cases and preventively suspend personnel if necessary.

It will be collaborating with offices such as the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission.

Duterte earlier ordered the DOJ to organize a panel to investigate allegations of corruption at PhilHealth.

This comes amid claims that PhilHealth's top officials had pocketed billions of pesos from the state insurer's funds through several fraudulent schemes.

PhilHealth's legal sector chief said members of the executive committee will file a libel complaint against former anti-fraud legal officer Thorrsson Montes Keith over his allegations.

PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales admitted earlier this week that the agency could have lost P10.2 billion due to fraud in 2019, an amount he said could reach P18 billion by next year if unaddressed.

Morales denied coddling corrupt officials in the agency. —LDF, GMA News