Duque says PhilHealth 'mafia' part of ongoing NBI probe

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Wednesday said the alleged mafia within the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is part of the ongoing investigation by government agents.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, Duque said allegations that there were PhilHealth officials involved in the supposed ghost dialysis practices of WellMed Dialysis & Laboratory Center Corp. are being looked into by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

"Kasama 'yan sa imbestigasyon na isinagawa. Kaya nga inihanda na ang pakikipagtulungan ng PhilHealth sa NBI para ma-establish through a chronology of events," said Duque, who is also PhilHealth's ex-officio chair.

"Kasi 'yung chronology of events, matutukoy mo anu-anong opisina ang humawak ng mga dokumento, saan nagkapasahan ng dokumento, saan nagkabalikan ng dokumento, bakit naging napakatagal bago nila malitis ang kasong ito," he added.

The controversy started when two former employees of WellMed bared the alleged "ghost dialysis" treatments with patients who were already dead.

President Rodrigo Duterte then asked for the courtesy resignations of top PhilHealth officials, including acting president Dr. Roy Ferrer.

Meanwhile, Bryan Sy, one of the owners of WellMed, has been detained due to an estafa complaint. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News