PNP Officials Charged for P1.8M Medical Exam Scam

The Office of the Ombudsman ordered the filing of four counts of violation of Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against P/Supt. Elizabeth Milanes and P/Supt. Digna Ambas of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Health Service.Aside from criminal charges, Milanes and Ambas were found guilty of Grave Misconduct and were ordered dismissed from the service. They were both meted the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility and forfeiture of retirement benefits.

Based on the 2010 investigation conducted by the PNP Regional Investigation and Detective Management Group, anomalies were uncovered in the Regional Health Service 3 (RHS3) headed by Milanes and Ambas. It was found that Milanes and Ambas manipulated medical examination results of police applicants, with 41 police trainees attesting that they paid for the medical examinations and vaccines in cash without any official receipts issued. Investigation also found that many police applicants were disqualified without being given copies of the results, and that the medical screenings were performed by on-the-job trainees without supervision from the organic personnel of RHS3.

The charge sheet also states that Milanes and Ambas allowed E. Indiongco Diagnostic Laboratory to conduct the medical exams without the benefit of public bidding and was allowed to use office space free of charge.

According to the Resolution, “respondents Milanes and Ambas gave Indiongco unwarranted benefit when they allowed him to collect payments from PNP applicants in the total amount of P1,868,050.00 without issuing any official receipt.”

Also included in the charge sheet is Eduardo Indiongco of Indiongco Laboratory.

Source: www.ombudsman.gov.ph