IBC execs face raps over PhilHealth contributions

MANILA, Philippines - Quezon City chief prosecutor Donald Lee has recommended the filing of charges against former members of the International Broadcasting Co. (IBC) board of directors for failing to remit the monthly Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth or PHIC) contributions of the network’s employees.

Mark Allan, Jay Yambao, Joselito Yabut, Victor Felipe, Lauro Vizconde, Juanito der Asis and Ricardo Ebcede have been charged with violating the National Health Insurance Act of 1995 before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court.

Lee granted the motion for reconsideration filed by PhilHealth counsel Florecita Torreliza, who sought to reverse the Feb. 13 resolution of assistant city prosecutor Alessandro Jurado, who junked the case, citing lack of probable cause.

“As correctly argued by complainant, enrolment of all employers and employees in PhilHealth is mandatory under Republic Act 7875 as amended by 9241, hence proof of coverage is not necessary. Probable cause exists against the respondents for failure and refusal to deduct contributions from IBC employees’ compensation and to remit it to the PHIC,” Lee said in his resolution.

He set bail at P6,000 for each of the directors.

Torreliza filed the case in 2009, claiming the respondents allegedly violated Section 44 of RA 7875 when they incurred an outstanding obligation to PHIC amounting to P6,153,825.00.

The amount, representing the IBC employees’ PhilHealth contributions, covered the periods from March to December 2004; January 2005 to December 2007; January to December 2008 and January to April 2009.

PhilHealth sent a demand letter dated May 28, 2009 to the IBC manager, who received it the following day, but the letter allegedly went unheeded.

Former press secretary Cerge Remonde was included among the respondents but he died of heart attack on Jan. 19, 2010.