DOJ urged to put ‘ghost dialysis’ whistleblowers under witness protection

MANILA, Philippines — Lawyer Harry Roque on Tuesday urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to place the two whistleblowers in the alleged “ghost” dialysis scam at WellMed Dialysis Center under the government’s witness protection program (WPP).

Roque is the legal counsel of Edwin Roberto and Liezel Santos, two former WellMed employees who revealed that WellMed had filed claims with PhilHealth for “ghost” dialysis treatments.

“I’m asking the DOJ to expedite the process of provisional admission into the WPP,” Roque said in an interview over ABS CBN News Channel.

“Without their testimony, we would not have known that the dead have been availing dialysis benefits in this country,” he added.

Roque explained that individuals could only be admitted to the WPP if they were involved in the scam itself.

However, he said the two witnesses have not benefited from the scam because the money involved was directly received by WellMed, not its employees.

“Clearly the two whistleblowers falsified data upon order,” he pointed out.

“But contrary to their lawyer’s (Wellmed) claim, they (whistleblowers) could not have benefited because the payment by the PhilHealth is direct to WellMed, it does not go to the employees, it is not paid for in cash,” Roque added.

“It’s either deposited into the account of WellMed or paid by way of check to WellMed and not to individuals,” Roque added.   (Editor: Mike U. Frialde)