Ex-Medical City president sued for theft, estafa

The operator of The Medical City has sued its former longtime president and CEO, former Health Secretary Alfredo Bengzon, and his daughter-in-law for allegedly illegally disbursing P3.8 million in corporate funds.

The filing of the qualified theft and estafa complaint against Bengzon and Margaret Bengzon came nearly two months after the Securities and Exchange Commission ordered Professional Services Inc. (PSI), the hospital’s operator, to reconstitute its former board, which would allow Bengzon to take back his previous post.

In an eight-page complaint, PSI internal audit head Joseph Carballo claimed that Bengzon and Margaret, who was then a PSI senior vice president, “stole company funds” when they issued a check worth P1.8 million to a private law firm in March 2018.

The Bengzons again issued and subsequently encashed a check amounting to P2 million in April 2018, five months before the board removed them from their posts. —Marlon Ramos