Philhealth scam whistle-blower feels abandoned amid estafa raps

Philhealth scam whistleblower Edwin Roberto feels depressed and abandoned amid the estafa charges he is facing for speaking about the alleged payment by Philhealth to ghost beneficiaries through WellMed Dialysis and Laboratory Center.

Roberto and his lawyer Harry Roque in a news conference lamented that Philhealth officials are holding back the documents pertinent to filing criminal complaints such as malversation of public funds and dereliction of duty against their officials.

“Nalulungkot po kami, nade-depress. Lumabas po kami para makamit ng mga tao ang benepisyo na para sa kanila, pero parang pinabayaan po kami, parang wala pong assurance,” Roberto said of the estafa charges that the Department of Justice filed against them and WellMed owner Bryan Sy.

“Mahirap po ang aming pinagdadaanan, hindi nga po kami makapagtrabaho. We felt left out. Hindi po kami makalabas ng bahay, [tapos] may umiikot-ikot po sa bahay namin,” Roberto added.

According to Roque, Roberto and his partner, Liezel Aileen de Leon, were detained for four days before their supporters were able to raise enough money for their bail.

Roque decried the Philhealth officials’ refusal to give them pertinent documents in connection with faulty paid Philhealth benefits.  

“Imagine not giving us the vouchers, check, receipts we need because of Data Privacy Act? Hindi iyan ginagamit para itago ang katotohanan, lalo na kapag ma krimeng nangyayari. Besides, we are not looking for private data, this is for case build up,” Roque said.

“It is their duty to make sure na hindi nalulustay ang pera ng gobyerno na napupunta ang benepisyo sa buhay hindi sa patay. Hindi puede yung sinasabi ng Philhealth na porket nagsubmit ng required documentation eh bigay ka lang ng bigay. Kagaguhan iyan,” Roque added.

After meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, Roque said he was confident their case would prosper.  

“Because of our talk with the President last week, I was given assurance that the Philhealth will give full cooperation para maisampa ang kaso,” Roque said.

“Otherwise itong mga baboy sa PhilHealth will be laughing their way to the bank. Kaya iyang mga baboy sa PhilHealth, tumigil na kayo,” he added. —LDF, GMA News