(Main photo credit: PhilHealth’s website)
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Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque reiterated that the decision of the president and CEO of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) Ricardo Morales to resign was his own “personal” choice.
“(The) matter of resignation is the personal decision of the appointee. And if it is indeed filed, then it becomes my obligation to make it public,” Roque told CNN Philippines’ The Source.
Recently, Morales said in an interview with ABS-CBN that he would tender his resignation to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on August 26. His decision to quit follows the remark of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra that said President Rodrigo Duterte believes it would be best for for him to resign due to his health condition.
READ ALSO: Duterte asks for resignation of PhilHealth head due to heath issues
Morales was appointed as the corporation’s chief in August 2019 by Duterte. He went on leave to get treated for lymphoma or cancer of the lymph nodes, which he announced days after the president ordered an investigation against the alleged corruption within PhilHealth.
PhilHealth has been on hot water after former anti-fraud officer Thorrsson Montes Keith claimed top officials have stolen around PHP15 billion through fraudulent means—noting that “mafia members” are responsible for the anomalous transactions.
Testifying before the Senate Committee on the Whole, he claimed that the amount stolen from the agency has reached such a big amount due to the culture cultivated by these higher officials.
“Naniniwala po ako na ang dahilan kung bakit hindi natatapos ang korapsyon sa PhilHealth at naging kultura na po nito, ay ang pagtatalaga ng mga sindikato o mafia ng kanilang kasamahan, kasabwat o kapwa sindikato sa mga matataas na posisyon na nakakatulong sa kanilang iligal operasyon,” he said.
SEE ALSO: PhilHealth to face Senate on allegations of corruption, incompetence and inefficiency
