News
PhilHealth Region II Warns Establishments of Fake Checks -
February 16, 2010
THE Regional Office of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) based in Tuguegarao City and headed by Regional Vice President Dr. Roberto T. Reyes recently called on owners of establishments particularly grocery stores and supermarkets, farm and hardware suppliers to be wary of unscrupulous individuals peddling fake PhilHealth reimbursement cheques.
The warning was aired following reports of spurious cheques encashment in Tuguegarao City and in Solana, Cagayan.
The fake or spurious claim reimbursement cheques identified the Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB)- Tuguegarao Branch as the depository bank, and is made out of semi-ordinary paper. Unlike the real PhilHealth cheque, the fake cheques contain scanned signatures of PhilHealth personnel and are printed using high-end laser printer.
To date, eight (8) spurious cheques have been reported to PhilHealth Region II by business owners after PVB Tuguegarao City Branch failed to encash them after the latter found them fake and non-negotiable. The fake cheques, however, do not contain any of the names of PhilHealth Region II officials who are authorized to sign claim reimbursement cheques.
The regional office has issued advisories to the various business owners in the region and officers have guested on leading local broadcast programs to increase public awareness regarding the incident. (Samuel A. Morillo, PhRO2)