SANTO DOMINGO– On Saturday evening, December 6, people began arriving at the Attorney General's Office to give statements regarding the high-profile case of the National Health Insurance (SeNaSa), where an alleged embezzlement occurred. These events generated anticipation about the steps the Public Prosecutor's Office would take in the following hours.
Throughout Saturday, preparations continued discreetly, while teams from the Attorney General's Office analyzed documents and records related to the investigation. The visits and interviews kept the public engaged throughout the night.
It was yesterday, Sunday, December 7, after the Public Prosecutor's Office announced the operation it has dubbed "Cobra," that the first official reactions emerged. One of the first was President Luis Abinader, who stated, through his social media accounts and a press release, that the country was facing "a situation that requires clarity, firmness, and transparency" in relation to the investigative process.
The president also noted that "the only way forward is by acting with institutional responsibility," emphasizing that the government will support the actions of the Public Prosecutor's Office within the framework of respect for the independence of the prosecuting body.
The presidential statement marked the beginning of a series of institutional responses that continued throughout Sunday. From early morning, various public and private actors began to express their positions on the unfolding case.
Digital platforms amplified the reactions, while the public closely followed the statements and publications that emerged throughout the day. The public debate focused on the implications and scope of the case.
Yeni Berenice
The Attorney General of the Republic, Yeni Berenice Reynoso, stated that the Public Ministry is making great efforts to ensure that those responsible for defrauding SeNaSa pay for their actions and return to the Dominican State every peso stolen from public assets.
He said that the public ARS (Health Risk Administrator) belongs to all citizens and that corruption in this sector directly affects the constitutional right to health, especially for the most needy.
“The Public Prosecutor’s Office reiterates its unwavering commitment to fighting corruption. Those who have endangered public health must be held accountable for their criminal acts,” he stated.
Milagros Ortiz Bosch
The Director General of Ethics and Governmental Integrity, Milagros Ortiz Bosch, reacted via her account on the social network X (formerly Twitter). In a brief message posted in the late afternoon, she wrote: “Ethics never rests.”.
The private sector
The National Council of Private Enterprise (CONEP) also issued a statement on Sunday expressing its support for the Dominican Republic's institutions and legal system.
The business association stated that “strengthening the rule of law is fundamental for legal certainty and confidence in the Dominican Republic,” and emphasized the importance of conducting all investigations in accordance with the current legal framework.
The statement added that transparency and due process are essential pillars for the country's economic stability and investment climate. CONEP called for allowing the Public Prosecutor's Office to proceed with its work until it reaches conclusions on the case.
Meanwhile at SeNaSa
Amid the attention generated by the case, the National Health Insurance (SeNaSa) reported, through a statement, that it maintains the continuity and stability of its services for more than 7.4 million members, without any interruptions.
The institution detailed that its current network consists of more than 7,812 independent doctors, 301 clinics, 460 specialized centers, 147 laboratories, more than 50 imaging centers, 979 pharmacies, 185 hospitals and 103 primary care centers, which guarantees timely access to consultations, diagnoses, hospitalizations, medicines and specialized treatments.
SeNaSa emphasized that this structure allows for the continuity of emergency care, surgeries, high-cost procedures, and essential services included in the coverage. The agency reported that it is working to strengthen its internal processes and modernize its technological platforms.
He also stated that, during the last three months, together with its network of providers, it authorized more than 26,000 services, for an amount exceeding 19 billion pesos, reflecting its response capacity throughout the national territory.
“Ensuring access and peace of mind for our members is our priority. Our service does not stop,” the institution stated in the note, assuring that no treatment, authorization, or ongoing process has been affected.
In context
The Public Prosecutor's Office launched Operation Cobra this weekend , initiating a legal process that seeks criminal penalties and the confiscation of money stolen from public funds through the National Health Insurance ( SeNaSa ). 8
In the operation, Santiago Marcelo F. Hazim Albainy, former director of SeNaSa, and seven other people have been arrested, accused of defrauding that public health risk administrator (ARS) of billions of pesos, while several individuals and legal entities continue under investigation with the purpose of bringing them to justice as the investigations of the prosecuting body progress.
A total of 25 prosecutors, assisted by more than 200 agents of the National Police, carried out 12 raids as part of the operation that also led to the arrest of Gustavo Enrique Messina Cruz, Germán Rafael Robles Quiñones, Francisco Iván Minaya Pérez, Eduardo Read Estrella, Cinty Acosta Sención, Ramón Alan Speakler Mateo and Ada Ledesma Ubiera.
