MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday said resigned Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) officials, including its former president and CEO Ricardo Morales, are not yet off the hook as they can still be held liable if found guilty for corrupt activities.
“The law is very clear when there is criminal liability incurred when you’re in office, it subsists and public officers can be held liable for them whether or not they continue to be in office,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a televised Palace press briefing.
Roque said this following the resignation this week of Morales and PhilHealth senior vice president for the legal sector Rodolfo del Rosario at the height of investigations over the alleged systematic corruption within the state health insurance firm.
Morales, who was reportedly undergoing treatment for lymphoma, stepped down from his post on Wednesday after President Duterte asked him to resign due to his medical condition.
Duterte earlier created an inter-agency task force led by the Department of Justice to probe PhilHealth officials over corruption claims that were unearthed during recent congressional inquiries.
Among allegations of corruption raised involve the procurement of alleged overpriced IT equipment, a supposedly questionable release of funds under the corporation’s Interim Reimbursement Mechanism (IRM), and the alleged manipulation of the corporation’s financial status.
Roque said there are already “names being considered” to lead the embattled state-run firm but he noted that the President is being careful about his selection.
“Kinakailangan po ang talagang iuupo dyan ay walang bahid ng korupsyon, meron pong managerial skills, meron pong kakayahan sa larangan mismo ng insurance saka health service,” Roque said.