Duterte still trusts PhilHealth chief Morales amid alleged corruption issues, says Go

Published July 27, 2020 02:05 PM Updated July 27, 2020 02:54 PM By DONA MAGSINO,GMA News

Philippine Health Insurance Corporation chief Ricardo Morales remains to have President Rodrigo Duterte's trust despite the ongoing executive investigation into alleged irregularities in the agency, according to Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go on Monday.

"As of now, nabanggit niya (Duterte) sa akin malaki po ang tiwala niya kay Gen. Dick Morales, sa kaniyang integridad. Kaya lang po 'yung sa baba, 'yung mga tauhan sa baba, dapat niyang tingnan mabuti at dapat nga po ay imbestigahan," Go, a close ally and former aide of Duterte, told reporters in a virtual interview.

Go, nevertheless, said the President is still awaiting the result of the investigation

being led by Office of the Special Assistant to the President Undersecretary Jesus Melchor Quitain into the alleged irregularities within the state health insurer.

Morales took the helm of PhilHealth in June 2019 on the heels of the issue on alleged funding of dialysis treatment for patients who were already deceased. 

The senator said he also trusts Morales: "I believe in his integrity pero kung 'yung pag-uusapan natin ay kontrolado ba niya ang mga tao sa baba, let's wait until the hearing."

"Tingin ko nasa baba ang problema. Kahit ilang beses magpalit ang Pangulo ng mga board members diyan, kahit ilang beses pa siya magpapalit ng pangulo ng PhilHealth o CEO, eh kung sa baba naman ang katiwalian at ‘di nila kontrolado mga tao sa baba, wala pong mangyayari," he added.

Earlier, PhilHealth anti-fraud officer Thorrsson Montes Keith resigned due to what he alleged was "widespread corruption" in the agency, among other things. On Monday, Keith said he is in hiding following his exposé as he noted Morales' supposed reputation as an "assassin."

Morales just brushed off the accusation as he maintained that the allegations of corruption are not backed up by evidence.

"Mabait na ako ngayon," Morales said. "Ang hinihingi ko lang sa kaniya (Keith) ay i-substantiate na 'yung mga sinasabi niya."

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who sought a Senate investigation into the issue, deferred answering if he trusts Morales.

He said he would have an answer for it once the Senate inquiry begins, probably next Monday.

At least three to four witnesses against PhilHealth will attend, according to Sotto. 

Meanwhile, Go said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, the chairperson of the PhilHealth Board and of the Inter-Agency Task Force Against COVID-19, also enjoys the President's trust.

"Si Pangulo, andiyan pa rin tiwala niya kay Secretary Duque at mahirap pong magpalit ng kapitan sa gitna ng gyerang ito kaya po pinatulungan na niya sa mga former military generals, ang tatlong miyembro ng gabinete—Secretary Lorenzana, Ano, and Galvez," he said.

"Kahit sinong Secretary of Health po hindi kakayanin ang labang ito mag-isa. Ang nakikita niya nga po kay Secretary Duque tuwing meetings ay talagang overloaded na po si Secretary Duque" he added.

Three months ago, several senators asked for Duque's resignation for alleged failure of leadership amid the pandemic. The call, however, was ignored.

As of July 26, the Philippines recorded a total of 80,448 COVID-19 cases with 26,110 recoveries and 1,932 deaths.—KG/AOL, GMA News

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