Morales declines to resign from PhilHealth
Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) President Ricardo Morales said that he would not step down from his post as he has yet to curb the irregularities in the agency.
"There are (still) things that has to be done...I'm here (serving) at the pleasure of the President. Until I'm needed, you know it's not easy, like a good soldier--- I'm just sticking it out," said Morales during a press briefing on Thursday, August 6.
Morales said that they are doing what they can to rid the irregularities in the state-health insurer, noting that the reforms do not happen easily.
“Reforms do not take overnight. The reform that we want will take time bago magkaroon ng epekto (before its effects can be seen),” he said.
PhilHealth Spokesperson Dr. Shirley Domingo also defended Morales against accusations that he is involved in fraudulent activities in the agency.
“The history or the work of General Morales in the past, sya yung (he was the) original graft buster if you will read his works in the past. Sa tingin ko walang makakalusot sa kanya na graft dito sa corporation. (I think no graft can get through him here in the corporation),” said Domingo.
Morales said that the investigations being conducted are nothing new to them as “it has become an annual event already.”
“About the same time last year, there was also an investigation where PhilHealth was roasted,” he said.
Possible charges vs. Keith
Morales said that they are looking at the possibility of filing a complaint against PhilHealth former anti-fraud officer Thorsson Montes Keith, who alleged that there is “widespread corruption” within the agency.
“Our legal people are exploring that...We will see what we can do about that,” said Morales.
PhilHealth Senior Vice President for the Legal Sector Rodolfo Del Rosario said they can show proof that Keith’s accusations are not true.
“Ang dami po niyang kasinungalingan na pinagsasabi. Sabi nya P15 billion binulsa ng mga execom members. We can show receipts of the releases IRM (interim reimbursement mechanism) na hindi yan binulsa ng execom. ,” said Del Rosario.
Regardless of the decision of the PhilHealth, Del Rosario said that the members of the Executive Committee intend to file libel charges against the whistleblower.
“Kahit na hindi mag decide kasi ang corporation (Even if the corporation decides not ) to file charges against him, ang members ng execom (the members of the execom), on our personal capacity, will file charges or complaints against him,” said Del Rosario.
“The whole execom will file charges against him for libel. At hindi nya pwedeng i-invoke yung legislative immunity nya (And he cannot invoke his legislative immunity) because he actually went around the media stating those lies, those fabrications,” he added.
Another resignation
Morales also confirmed the resignation of PhilHealth Vice President for Operations Augustus De Villa.
The PhilHealth chief said that De Villa talked to him earlier and explained the reason for his resignation.
“You know, it is not easy to be running PhilHealth even in ordinary times and also lalo na sa panahon na ito (especially during this time). We're subjected to a 10-hour grilling by the Senate and I think talagang na laspag kami doon (we were really exhausted then),” said Morales.
“I think that added to the tension and he said that he wanted to spend more of his time with his family. I respect his decision and I'm grateful for his candor,” he added.
Morales assured that the resignation of De Villa will not affect their operations.
“We continue to operate...There are business continuity plans in place and they will continue to operate so that we can continue providing services,” he said.
Morales that one’s resignation is “an individual choice.”
“If there are employees or executives who want to resign, I cannot stop them. I would like to keep them syempre dahil yung workload bibigat (of course, because the workload will become heavy). But that is an individual choice which I don't have control,” he said.