After accepting Morales' resignation, Duque says Duterte looking for new PhilHealth chief
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 3:01 p.m.) — After accepting the resignation of PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales, President Rodrigo Duterte is already looking for a new head for the state insurer, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III confirmed Thursday.
"Both I and the president accept the decision of [Morales] to leave his post due to his health," Duque said in FIlipino during an event Laguna.
A health certificate submitted by Morales to the Senate revealed that he is receiving treatment for lymphoma or cancer of the lymph nodes.
He also acknowledged the resignation of PHilHealth Senior Vice President Rodolfo del Rosario Jr.
According to Duque, the president is already looking for someone to replace Morales, citing skills in financing and accounting, and a legal background as possible criteria being considered by Duterte, TV5 reported.
While the president searches for a new PhilHealth chief, Duque said the agency's Officer-in-Charge Arnel de Jesus, who is already working as its Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, will ensure the operations remain uninterrupted.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, who heads an inter-agency task force investigation into alleged corruption and mismanagement within the agency, also offered his own criteria for any incoming PhilHealth chief.
"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," he said.
Morales told ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo on Wednesday that he would be submitting his resignation to Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea within the morning.
Later in the day, PhilHealth Senior Vice President for Legal Affairs Rodolfo Del Rosario Jr. confirmed to several news outlets that he tendered his own resignation on Monday.
Del Rosario was among the agency's officials who were put under a six-month suspension with no pay.
Palace: Reorganization of PhilHealth possible
After confirming Duterte's acceptance of Morales' resignation, Roque during a virtual briefing on Thursday revealed that a number of people are already being vetted for the newly-vacated top PhilHealth post.
"There are names considered but the president is being careful in choosing. It has to be someone who will help him earn back [the public's] trust in PhilHealth," he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
He added that the restructuring of PhilHealth, something Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon called for on Wednesday, was possible as long as it remains consistent with the law that created the agency.
The presidential spokesman was referring to RA 7875 which instituted a "national health insurance program for all Filipinos and established the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation for the purpose."
Roque, who has long taken issue with what he called Morales' failure to clean up the agency and his delayed implementation of the Universal Health Care Law, again disputed rumors that he was looking to take the top spot at the state-run insurer.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. is facing scrutiny anew over more allegations of corruption.
It was in the headlines last year because of an alleged scam involving payments to WellMed Dialysis Center for treatments charged for a patient who had already died.
Follow this thread for updates.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation announces that the agency has released P500 million as partial payment to the Philippine Red Cross.
"PhilHealth takes exception to the insinuation that it is reckless and is playing on people’s lives. Its prudence in taking charge of its members’ hard-earned contributions is central to the state health insurer. Its exercise of judiciousness is to protect the people and their funds", PhiHealth President and CEO Dante Gierran says in a statement.
PhilHealth has released P50 million as partial payment to the Philippine Red Cross, PhilHealth President and CEO Dante Gierran says.
"PhilHealth takes exception to the insinuation that it is reckless and is playing on people’s lives. Its prudence in taking charge of its members’ hard-earned contributions is central to the state health insurer," Gierran says.
The state insurer adds that it will expedite the processing of its remaining balance to Red Cross following strict compliance to government accounting rules and regulations.
Two committees in the House approve a report recommending the filing of administrative and criminal charges against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, former PhilHealth chief Ricardo Morales and other officials over the widespread corruption in the state health insurer.
President Rodrigo Duterte says the government will compensate the Philippine Red Cross for COVID-19 tests.
The Red Cross recently halted conducting tests due to the P930 million debt of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation for the conduct of COVID-19 tests for the government.
"I don't think Sen. (Richard) Gordon would have in his mind to stop. What I'm trying to say is we will pay," Duterte says in a recorded address aired Monday night.
The Philippine Red Cross will stop conducting COVID-19 tests chargeable to PhilHealth due to the state insurer's outstanding balance.
PRC says it will no longer receive specimens for testing of OFWs, those arriving in airports and seaports, individuals through mega swabbing facilities, frontline health and government workers, and others included in the expanded testing guidelines of the DOH.
"The PRC does not have unlimited resources to replenish the testing kits for its laboratories unless PhilHealth, its major creditor, settles its lawful obligations to the PRC," PRC says in a statement dated October 14.
- Latest
- Trending
