Health Secretary Francisco Duque has announced that President Rodrigo Duterte has accepted the resignation of embattled Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) President and CEO Ricardo Morales.
“Tinanggap natin at ni Pangulo ang kaniyang pagbibitiw sa pwesto dahil sa kaniyang kalusugan,” Duque said in a media briefing.
Duque serves as the chairman of the PhilHealth board.
The health secretary said that the President is now looking for Morales’ replacement in one week.
Morales stepped down from office after Duterte had expressed the belief that it would be “best” for the embattled PhilHealth chief to let go of his current position.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a statement on Tuesday, “The President took note last night of Morales’s on-and-off health situation, and stated that it would be best for the latter and for PhilHealth to give up his post during these critical times for the agency,”
Guevarra added that the next PhilHealth president should be someone who has a steep experience in financial management and deep understanding of the law.
“Someone who has a steep experience in financial management and deep understanding of the law, and has a good amount of charisma to inspire and rally the good people at PhilHealth to start rebuilding the public’s trust in and respect for their agency,” Guevarra said.
