PHILHEALTH’S RICARDO MORALES TO RESIGN TODAY
After learning PDU30 wants him to resign ‘for health reason’
PHILIPPINE Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) president, Ricardo Morales, is expected to tender his resignation today, on the “suggestion” of Pres. Duterte a day previously.
In a radio interview over DZMM Teleradyo, Morales said he would be submitting his formal resignation today, on hearing of the news from the Palace that he should relinquish his post for health reason.
Morales, who is officially on medical leave allegedly due to cancer (lymphoma), is under immense pressure to resign after failing in his mandate from Pres. Duterte to clean up the agency when he was appointed to his present post last year.
Two weeks ago, as both chambers of Congress are probing PhilHealth on fresh allegations of corruption, Department of National Defense (DND) secretary, Delfin Lorenzana, suggested it would be best for Morales to resign, citing his revelation that he has cancer.
Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary, Menardo Guevarra, head of a special task force created to also probe the ongoing corruption scandal at the agency, said the “suggestion” for Morales to step down for health reason came from the Chief Executive.
Guevarra added that Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea had also talked to Morales to relay the President’s “wish.”
The DOJ chief made these revelations after another Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, where he also said his task force had already pinpointed the “centers of fraud” at PhilHealth.
These areas include PhilHealth’s “IT system” (information technology), its Legal Sector, the Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM) and its Financial System.
Morales said he bears no ill will to the President but is thankful for his being allowed to rest to recover his health.
“Nagpapasalamat na rin ako sa Pangulo at pinayagan nya ako magpahinga. Ngayon maaatupag ko na ang aking kalusugan at ang aking pamilya.
“Malaking pasasalamat ko sa Pangulo natin. He never wavered in his confidence in me and I’m so humbled,” Morales said.
He also vowed to continue cooperating with the various ongoing investigations on PhilHealth corruption.
Only last Monday, August 24, 2020, PhilHealth’s Senior Vice President for the Legal Sector, Rodolfo del Rosario, had posted on social media that he had already submitted his “irrevocable resignation.”
“The past days have been so grueling and stressful. The character assassination, trial by publicity, and relentless persecution have left me in so much agony,” wrote del Rosario on Facebook.
Del Rosario is among the 11 PhilHealth executives ordered suspended for six months without pay by the Ombudsman last week.
