Ombudsman asked to review dismissal of plunder complaint vs Recto, Ledesma

Doctors and lawyers on Thursday, June 18, urged the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) to review its resolution dismissing plunder, graft, and administrative complaints lodged against Executive Secretary and former Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Ralph Recto and then Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr.

- By JEL SANTOS

The OMB, through a consolidated resolution dated June 2, 2026, found no prima facie evidence to hold Recto and Ledesma liable for plunder, graft, technical malversation, and grave misconduct in connection with the fund transfer.

In a 49-page motion for reconsideration, the complainants claimed that the OMB ‘‘committed errors of law and fact’’ in dismissing charges against Recto and Ledesma related to the P60-billion transfer of PhilHealth reserve funds to the National Treasury.

‘‘The motion seeks reconsideration of the dismissal of the criminal complaints for technical malversation, violations of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, plunder, and the administrative charge of grave misconduct,’’ they said in a statement.