Philhealth Scam: I Say Prosecute All of ‘em!
With the story of the P4-B PhilHealth scam coming to media attention this week, it reminds us of the necessity of the government to provide proper health care to our Filipino People, and to provide a proper infrastructure for a decent health care program, and to prosecute anyone caught of fraud in the medical field.
I say prosecute all those who participate in these scams and lock them up for good. And I urge the government to provide better oversight and a better system for the medical field to work with.
I’d like to focus on the prosecution of these individuals who commit fraud. I didn’t see any emphasis on the prosecution of these individuals during the hearings that took place this week.
I can cite one House Bill that is appropriate for the situation, and that is House Bill No. 09 of the Twelfth Congress.
AN ACT CURTAILING THE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES OF RACKETEERS AND POWERFUL SYNDICATES IN THE PHILIPPINES
Under Section 4(c); Racketeering includes,
insurance fraud, murder for insurance, insurance license franchising; sexual and economic exploitation of children (R.A. No.6710)
SEC. 5. Prohibited Activities. -It shall be unlawful for any person to:
(a) Knowingly participate, either directly or indirectly with or in an enterprise conducting a pattern of racketeering activity.
(b) Receive any money or property derived directly or indirectly, from a pattern of racketeering activity, or act as dummy of any person in order to hide or conceal money or property acquired through racketeering activities as defined herein.
(c) Use or invest directly or indirectly, any part of the money or property received or derived, directly or indirectly, from a pattern of racketeering activity in any interest in or the establishment or operation of any business.
(d) Acquire or maintain through a pattern of racketeering activity, directly or indirectly any interest in or control of any enterprise.
(e) Conspire in the conduct of any unlawful acts provided herein.
SEC. 6. Penalties. -Any person who commits any of the prohibited activities under Section 5 of this Act shall, upon conviction, be penalized by imprisonment of not less than ten (10) years nor more than twenty (20) years and if found guilty of a racketeering activity for which the maximum penalty includes life imprisonment or death, the penalty shall be life imprisonment or death, and a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P1 00,000.00) nor more than One million pesos. (P1,000,000.00).
12th Congress: House Bill No. 09
I’m not a lawyer of course, so I wonder if any lawyers know what other crimes could be leveled against those who would commit fraud against the health system.
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Until the Philippines systematically prosecutes those accused of fraud, frauders will continue to thrive.
It is so pathetic that doctors should join Gloria’s cheating bandwagon - I can’t believe that even they should stoop so low as to commit the unthinkable. Who do they think they’re victimizing when they do that? Malacanang? Of course not, it’s the little people.
I’ve met Philippine lawyers who are the lowest scumbags of the earth but doctors frauding on a massive scale? Who do they think they are Joc Joc Bolante Jr?
Sick, sick, sick!
It should be noted that the P4 B Philhealth Scam is a cumulative amount which started since 1995.
Let’s not join the media in bashing every administration. Let’s be positive and help our country.
Did you not observe that our eyes focus where media focuses?
Thanks. More Power To This Blog
@Lawrence,
P4B is noted. thank you.
I think there is a difference between being positive and not seeing the reality that faces us. I didn’t bash the administration in this article, because there was no need. I merely pointed out that such cases as P4B of fraud is a cause for concern since it further diverts funds into the pockets of these racketeers as well as into prosecuting them, instead of funneling it into an affordable health care system, that is still non-existent…
The reason that I bring this up is that I believe The Philippines can indeed improve its health care for its people.
We don’t need to scrap reality in order to be positive, I think we can do both..
Thanks for dropping by though, I appreciate your help and concern as well. Passion is always welcomed here..
As an addition, I think a strong assertion to prosecute these individuals who commit fraud, is a strong support for the government itself.
This is something that cannot be overlooked and should be focused on regardless of who sits at the helm in Malacañang.