Senate to seek AMLC help in tracing owner of PhilHealth's 'favorite' dialysis center —Lacson

The Senate will ask the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) if it can help in tracking down the owner of the dialysis center which received over P45 million from PhilHealth through its Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM), according to Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday.

In a virtual interview with reporters, Lacson said B Braun Avitum Philippines Inc. in Benguet was also the name of the healthcare institution indicated in the bank transactions when PhilHealth wrongly credited P9.7 million to Balanga Rural Bank in 2019.

The dialysis center, however, is not registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, according to the senator.

"That's beyond the power of the Senate. All we can do is to summon the AMLC and kung ibibigay nila sa amin ang details ng account number ay mate-trace natin kung sino ang nag-open ng account na iyon," Lacson said.

"Iko-coordinate muna namin kay Atty. [Mel Georgia] Racela who is the executive director [of the AMLC Secretariat], kung sabihin niyang pupuwede and even in an executive session they can furnish us 'yung kopya ng account details ng account number na na-establish, then we will invite him," he added.

Lacson said he has also urged Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission chief Greco Belgica if he can ask the Ombudsman to tap AMLC regarding the matter.

During a hearing on Tuesday, whistleblower Thorrsson Montes Keith alleged that PhilHealth senior vice president Rodolfo Del Rosario is the owner of B Braun -- an accusation that Del Rosario denied.

"I categorically deny that I have interest in any dialysis center or any health care provider for that matter and this is one of the lies of Atty. Thorrsson and I hope he will face the consequences if this allegation proves to be a lie and so untrue," Del Rosario said.

Another 'WellMed' case?

During the virtual interview, Lacson said B Braun Avitum could be the new conduit in a possible money-making scheme similar to the "ghost dialysis" scam involving WellMed Dialysis Center.

"It seems like ganoon nga kasi parang ang sitwasyon ng WellMed noon, parang dito naman ang pumalit naman sa kaniya ngayon sa ibang scheme naman, itong B Braun Avitum," he said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said corrupt officials will always find a way to circumvent a system for their own interest.

"It goes into what kind of system you have. If those manning the system are corrupt, they'll find a way of going around it," he said in a separate online interview.

PhilHealth officials, during Tuesday's hearing, denied that there was favoritism in the releases of funds through the IRM. —KBK, GMA News