MANILA, Philippines — Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr., who has been fighting tongue cancer since late 2017, will go on another leave this month to seek medical care abroad.
Espenilla, 60, revealed in February last year he was recovering from early stage tongue cancer diagnosed in November 2017.
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In an advisory, the BSP said Espenilla will be on leave from January 4 to 21 as he “will be obtaining medical care overseas as part of his continuing treatment program.”
While the governor is away, the central bank said Deputy Governors Diwa Guinigundo and Maria Almasara Cyd Tuaño-Amador will take turns as officer-in-charge at the BSP “in accordance with established business continuity protocols.”
“As an organization, the BSP remains focused on its mandate to ensure stable prices and maintain a sound financial system,” the BSP said.
Espenilla was appointed to the position by President Rodrigo Duterte in 2017. He replaced two-termer Amando Tetangco Jr., who has been recognized as a Grade-A central banker by New York-based Global Finance for eight straight years.
In his first year as central bank chief, Espenilla received a “B+” grade from Global Finance. — with a report from The STAR/Lawrence Agcaoili