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'Philhealth officials may still be charged even after resignations' -- Lacson

Philippines | National

'Philhealth officials may still be charged even after resignations' -- Lacson

By Mario Casayuran

Criminal cases would still be pursued, if warranted, against executives of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) even if they have filed resignations.

Senator Panfilo M. Lacson (MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, vice chairman of the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW), issued the statement following the resignations of PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer (PCEO) Ricardo Morales and Rodolfo del Rosario Jr., PhilHealth senior vice president for legal sector.

President Duterte accepted yesterday the resignation of Morales after he was asked to resign ostensibly to give him time to take care of his cancer illness.

Del Rosario resigned last Monday.

The COW is expected to release its report for signature of its members next week and for eventual floor debate.

‘’While the lives of millions of Filipinos were at a static pace because of the total lockdown forced by the coronavirus, the thieves in PhilHealth were squeezing the agency’s coffers at an amazing speed. Nobody can cheat karma,’’ Lacson said.

Malacanang’s Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) has estimated that PhilHealth lost P153 billion due to fraud since 2013.

‘’If you know anybody who can entrust to me documentary evidence, or somebody who has personal knowledge on similar corrupt acts perpetrated by officials in those agencies, I promise to take immediate action because is my duty to the people,’’ Lacson stressed.

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