Plunder raps filed vs Recto, ex-PhilHealth boss

A group of doctors, lawyers and members of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. have filed a criminal and administrative complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against Executive Secretary Ralph Recto and former PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. in connection with the transfer of P60 billion in excess fund of the health insurer to the national treasury.

- By ELIZABETH MARCELO

In their 33-page complaint affidavit filed yesterday, the complainants — composed mostly of doctors based in Iloilo - urged the ombudsman to investigate Recto and Ledesma for possible criminal offenses of plunder, technical malversation and graft as well as for the administrative offense of grave misconduct.

The complainants said Recto and Ledesma must be held criminally and administratively liable for their blatant violation of existing laws explicitly prohibiting the return of PhilHealth’s Reserve Funds to the general fund of the government.

Reacting to the filing of the complaint, Recto said the government has adhered to the Supreme Court (SC)’s decision on the PhilHealth funds.

“The issue has already been addressed by the Supreme Court, and the government has fully complied with its ruling. Consistent with this, funding for PhilHealth has since been restored and even augmented in order to better serve our countrymen,” Recto said in a statement.

“Let me also reiterate my innocence, as opined by Supreme Court justices, that no criminal liability may attach to me, as former secretary of finance, for acting in good faith and in accordance with a direct mandate from Congress in ordering the remittance of PhilHealth’s unused funds,” he added.

Recto vowed to continue to uphold the rule of law, respect due process and work to uplift the lives of Filipinos.

‘In good faith’