By Mario Casayuran  Senator Panfilo M. Lacson pressed the Executive branch on Tuesday to institute corrective and punitive measures against those responsible for the payment by Philhealth to medical facilities that treated ‘’ghost’’ patients. Sen. Panfilo Lacson
(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN) Reports indicate that PhilHealth has lost P154 billion due to loopholes in its payment mechanism. About half of this amount, or P102.5 billion, was lost because of overpayment of claims, and others to bogus treatments and ghost patients. ‘’Considering such humongous amount of money squandered either deliberately or through sheer negligence, Malacañang cannot simply "call it quits" and just let go,’’ Lacson, a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, said. ‘’Otherwise, whoever will be appointed to replace those who were asked to resign may just treat Philhealth funds as "business as usual,’’ he added. President Duterte had asked ranking PhilHealth officials to hand in their resignations. Senator-elect Christopher Lawrence ‘’Bong’’ Go said the resignations to be submitted by the officials of PhilHealth have to be accepted by the President first before it takes effect. ‘’Until any action on their courtesy resignations is taken by the President, appointive officials shall continue to report for work and perform their normal duties and responsibilities,’’ Go, a former Special Assistant to the President (SAP), said. Go said certain plantilla officials would be placed under Office of the President while the investigation is ongoing. On the meeting of President Rodrigo Duterte with PhilHealth officials, Go said the President was sad about the new scandal rocking the PhilHealth. Go said the President asked the PhilHealth officials to submit their courtesy resignations. He said the President wants the PhilHealth to start with a clean slate. ‘’Kailangan rin maklaro kung paano nakalusot sa napakatagal na panahon ang ganitong anomalya ng fraudulent claims sa pamamalakad ng kasalukuyang mga opisyal. Inutusan ng Pangulo ang NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) na imbestigahan ito sa mabilisang panahon,’’ Go stated. (There is a need to know how such fraudulent claims were allowed to go on undetected for so long. The President had ordered NBI to undertake a fast probe.) At present, PhilHealth officials having plantilla positions were temporarily assigned under the Office of the President, Go added. PhilHealth is reportedly being bled dry through various schemes such as overpayment of hospitals, the “upcasing” and padding of claims, ghost dialysis treatments, ghost patients and even fake members.