Woman faces raps for Philhealth checks scam

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office indicted the woman accused in the withdrawal and encashment of several Philhealth checks from the Cebu City Medical Center.

Based on the accounts of the witnesses, Prosecutor Edgardo Montenegro denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Janice Tecson a.k.a. Concha Ruth Adlawan who allegedly falsified commercial documents.

Tecson, in her motion, stated there was no indication as to how the alleged witnesses identified her as she has not met them. Also, she said there’s no proof of her participation in the offense as her signature does not appear on the Philhealth checks.

However, after going over the arguments raised in the said motion, Montenegro ruled that he finds no reason to disturb his earlier finding. Tecson is charged for eight counts of estafa through falsification of commercial documents. Montenegro recommended P142,000 bail.

It was the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) who filed the complaint against Montenegro at the request of the former hospital chief of the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), Dr. Myrna Go.

Evidence revealed that on April 30, 2010 the administrative aide of CCMC billing section Rita Avilluna received a call from a certain Kristine who claimed to be connected with Philhealth.

Avilluna transferred the call to their head of office, Ma. Lourdes Archua.

A certain Kristine then told Archua that there was a change in the Philhealth system and that all check payments issued by the company must be withdrawn to be stamped with Philhealth seal, otherwise, the check will not be accepted by the new system.

In the morning of May 4, 2010 Avilluna said she again received a call from the same person which she forwarded to Philhealth check in-charge Mary Grace Lopez.

However, at that point the caller identified herself as Mary Ann Garcia, who also claimed to be connected with the Philhealth. Garcia then asked Lopez if she has in her possession the Philhealth checks intended for doctor’s fees but Lopez said the professional fees of doctors are directly sent to them and not in CCMC.

Lopez then transferred the call to Archua.

Garcia informed Archua that she needed to withdraw all Philhealth checks issued to CCMC for stamping seal and that she will send a Philhealth trainee.

In the afternoon of the same date, a woman who identified herself as Adlawan arrived at the billing section of CCMC and presented to Archua an authorization letter from Garcia from the Credit and Collection Department of Philhealth.

Archua then instructed Lopez to release the 28 Philhealth checks to Adlawan. However, when the latter got hold of the checks she was able to encash nine out of 28 checks amounting to P129,719.75 by presenting a falsified authorization of Go to Josephine Utrera, Peter Regalado and Bert Colong, Jr.

Verification made by the NBI at the Philhealth Office showed there was no Garcia or Adlawan employed in their office. — (FREEMAN)