Private firm denies PEA health scam

There was a failure to get the facts straight in the P2-million health scam alleged against the Public Estates Authority Tollway Corp., according to the private company that entered into an agreement with the PEATC for the controversial health service program.

Lacson and Lacson Insurance Brokers Inc. described as "deplorable" the revelation made by Rachel Pastores of the Public Interest Law Center (PILC) that the PEATC released checks to the company amounting to P2 million in 2001 when in fact the contract took effect only this year.

The PILC is the law firm handling the plunder charges against Public Estates Authority (PEA) officials for their purported involvement in the overpricing of the construction of the President Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard (PDMB) currently being investigated by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee.

In a statement faxed to The STAR, Salvador Lacson, managing director of Lacson and Lacson, said it was "unfortunate" for Pastores to have failed to verify her facts before making a statement.

He said the transaction they had with PEATC was a "legitimate business deal."

Pastores told The STAR the other day that the PEATC contract did not undergo the bidding process as it was already a "negotiated contract" of which PEA chairman Ernest Villareal, concurrent head of the PEATC, had knowledge.

She said Villareal approved the checks, facilitated the payment and signed the approval of the disbursement of checks.

"Essentially, payments were made to the private company even before the contact was approved," Pastores said.

But the PILC also said it is still in the process of gathering more evidence and documents, admitting that the case against PEATC is not airtight.

In explaining their side, Lacson and Lacson Insurance Brokers Inc. said the hospitalization insurance took effect on Aug. 25, 2001 and expired on Aug. 24, 2002, while the outpatient coverage began Sept. 25, 2001 and ended on Sept. 24, 2002.

"It is not true that (the) payment was (made in) advance last year for a contract that took effect only this year as she alleges," the statement said.

Lacson said the PEATC had in fact been "delayed in paying us their premiums."

"While the contract required them to pay at the onset, they instead paid in eight installments, the last one on May 24, 2002. Clearly if anyone (made any) advance (payment), it certainly was not PEA Tollway Corp.," the statement said.