Palace receives PhilHealth chief’s resignation letter

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Wednesday received the resignation letter of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) president Ricardo Morales.

“This is to confirm that the Office of the President has received today, August 26, the resignation letter of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) President and Chief Executive Officer Ricardo C. Morales,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

“We are still awaiting President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s further action/instruction on the matter,” he added.

This was also confirmed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to the President’s former aide and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, the latter said in a message to reporters.

Morales was earlier asked by President Rodrigo Duterte to step down from his post due to his on-and-off health situation, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Tuesday.

The PhilHealth chief earlier took a medical leave as he is battling lymphoma and undergoing treatment.

When he announced his resignation, Morales had assured that he would continue cooperating with investigations being conducted on the alleged irregularities in PhilHealth.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives along with an inter-agency task force formed by the President himself are looking into alleged corruption in PhilHealth.

The supposed irregularities involve funds for a P2-billion information technology project and a P30-billion interim reimbursement mechanism to hospitals intended for COVID-19 patients.  [ac]