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.
Related Stories
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.