Whistleblowers in 'ghost dialysis' mess placed under witness protection

The two whistleblowers in the "ghost dialysis" controversy involving PhilHealth and a dialysis clinic on Wednesday asked the court to defer their confinement in jail following their acceptance to the government's Witness Protection Program (WPP).

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra confirmed Edwin Roberto and Liezel Santos De Leon have been provisionally admitted into the WPP for 90 days, pending investigation of seven other people allegedly involved in the supposed ghost claims scheme.

Represented by lawyer and former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, Roberto and De Leon filed before Judge Janet Abergos-Samar of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 219 an urgent ex-parte motion to defer implementation of commitment order.

In the said motion, the accused individuals manifested that they have already been placed under the WPP of the Department of Justice (DOJ).

"As such, accused respectfully request the indulgence of this Honorable Court to defer confinement to the Quezon City Jail and that they remain under the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation until their formal commitment to the Witness Protection Program," the motion read.

Roberto and De Leon were former employees of WellMed Dialysis Center, the clinic at the center of the controversy.

According to Roque, it was only on Tuesday, June 25, when his clients were accepted in the WPP.

"Naisumite na for resolution ang ating motion, una na huwag ilipat sa city jail itong sina Edwin at Liezel, itong whistleblowers natin laban sa mga ghost dialysis at saka 'yung paglipat sa kanilang kustodiya sa Witness Protection Program," Roque said.

"Kahapon lang kasi sila binigyan ng admission sa WPP at ayon sa batas ang kustodiya sa kanila will be under the WPP," he added.

Roque, meanwhile, said it is already in the hands of DOJ to file the motion to discharge his clients.

Roberto and De Leon were indicted for estafa due to alleged falsification of official documents along with Bryan Sy, one of the owners of the WellMed Dialysis Center.  —with Nichole-Anne Lagrimas/KBK, GMA News