Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) President Ricardo Morales said Sunday that he is considering taking a leave of absence while alleged irregularities hounding the agency are being investigated.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
“Yes, I'm considering. It’s just a suggestion. (So) I’m considering the suggestion,” said Morales.
He made the remark following the advice of Senate President Vicente Sotto III that PhilHealth officials should consider to go on leave to show “delicadeza” or propriety.
The agency said that it is ready to face investigations to be conducted by the Malacanang, Senate, and the House of Representatives.
Morales stressed that the agency’s problems cannot be solved immediately.
“Resolution will not appear overnight and will require some stability in the organization. Reform does not happen overnight,” said Morales.
“Of course, the corrupt and incompetent will have to be identified and punished,” he added.
The plan of conducting investigations was triggered after anti-fraud legal officer Thorrsson Montes Keith tendered his resignation, claiming that there is “widespread corruption” within PhilHealth.
Keith cited other reasons for his resignation such as he was against the mandatory payment of PhilHealth contribution of overseas Filipino workers, claiming that it is “unconstitutional or not part of the UHC (Universal Health Care) law.”
There was also “rampant and patent unfairness in the promotion process,” said Keith. He also noted that there is a delay in the payment of his salary and hazard pay, when he “investigated officers in PhilHealth.”
During the press conference, Morales answered the allegation on the delayed payment of salaries.
“Doon sa sinasabi nya na delay ang kanyang suweldo, lahat naman kami na delay kasi nga itong COVID. Lahat naman siguro ng kumpanya ngayon ay work from home, meron skelatal force. So lahat kami apektado...hindi lang naman sya, so he's not being singled out (Regarding the delayed salary, we all encountered it because of COVID. As we all know, some companies are implementing work from home scheme or skeletal force. We are all affected, he is not being singled out),” said Morales.
Morales said that Keith must present pieces of evidence to prove his allegations.
“He should substantiate 'yung mga accusations niya kasi very general 'yung sinasabi nya...Sana meron syang datos (He should substantiate his accusations because what he is saying is very general ... I hope he has data). The burden lies with him. He made accusations, he should substantiate it -- and then we will answer,” said the PhilHealth chief.