Duterte likely to name new PhilHealth chief on Monday

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte will likely announce his choice for the next president and CEO of the embattled Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) on Monday next week, his long-time aide and now Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said.

“Pinagpipilian pa nya. Malamang Lunes niya announce,” Go told INQUIRER.net in a message on Friday.

(He is still looking at his choices. He will likely make the announcement on Monday.)

In a separate interview with reporters in Davao, Go said the President is carefully making his choice for the replacement of resigned PhilHealth president and CEO Ricardo Morales.

“Nagkausap kami ni Pangulong Duterte kaninang madaling araw. Meron nang nasa radar nya, pinagiisipan na niyang mabuti,” he said.

(The President and I talked earlier and there are people under his radar that he is looking at.)

“Kailangan na rin talagang magkaroon ng kapalit para tuloy tuloy ang serbisyo ng PhilHealth, hindi po ma-hamper, maantala ang serbisyo para sa tao,” he added.

(There really needs to be a replacement soon so that the service of PhilHealth will continue, it won’t be hampered and disrupted.)

Morales tendered his resignation on Wednesday after the President said it was “best” for him to step down due to his health condition amid corruption claims hounding PhilHealth.

In July 2019, Duterte appointed Morales, a retired Army brigadier general, as PhilHealth president and CEO to rid the agency of corruption.

Currently, PhilHealth executive vice president and chief operating officer Arnel De Jesus serves as officer-in-charge of the state insurance firm following the resignation Morales.

EDV