DOJ indicts WellMed’s owner, whistleblowers

June 14, 2019

The Department of Justice on Friday indicted the owner of WellMed Dialysis Center, for complex crime of estafa for involvement in alleged ghost dialysis claims paid by Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

Justice Undersecretary Mark Perete said DOJ prosecutors found probable cause to indict Brian Sy, Edwin Roberto and Liezel Santos De Leon, the former employees who revealed the supposed scam for estafa.

“The investigating prosecutor found that the WellMed officers conspired in using falsified documents to collect payments from PhilHealth for alleged medical services to patients who were already dead," Perete said in a statement.

Sy, Roberto, and De Leon have been in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation since Monday afternoon. Roberto and De Leon have expressed willingness to be placed under the witness protection program.

Their lawyer, former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, earlier said the two would have to be charged in court first if they would wish to be discharged as state witnesses.

The inquest prosecutor referred the case against seven other respondents—WellMed officers and employees—for preliminary investigation. They are still at large. DMS

The Department of Justice on Friday indicted physician Brian Sy, owner of WellMed Dialysis Center, for complex crime of estafa for involvement in alleged ghost dialysis claims paid by Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

Justice Usec. Markk Perete revealed that the DOJ prosecutors found probable cause to indict Sy, Edwin Roberto and Liezel Santos De Leon, the former employees who revealed the supposed scam, for estafa through falsification of official documents.

“The investigating prosecutor found that the WellMed officers conspired in using falsified documents to collect payments from PhilHealth for alleged medical services to patients who were already dead," Perete said, in a statement.

Sy, Roberto, and De Leon have been in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation since Monday afternoon. Roberto and De Leon have expressed willingness to be placed under witness protection.

Their lawyer, former presidential spokesman Harry Roque, earlier said the two would have to be charged in court first if they would wish to be discharged as state witnesses in the future.

Meanwhile, the inquest prosecutor referred the case against the seven other respondents—WellMed officers and employees—for preliminary investigation. They remain at large. DMS