PhilHealth chief Morales, exec submit medical certificates ahead of Senate hearing

Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) chief Ricardo Morales and executive vice president Arnel De Jesus have disclosed their unfavorable medical conditions to the Senate ahead of the continuation of the legislative probe on alleged irregularities within the agency next week.

According to a credible source at the Senate on Saturday, Morales' oncologist sent a medical certificate to the Senate Committee of the Whole Friday night to inform the body that the PhilHealth chief is undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with lymphoma.

Due to his condition, Morales, 67, will be immunocompromised and vulnerable to infections, the source said.

The PhilHealth chief was advised by his doctor to take a leave of absence.

De Jesus, on the other hand, sent his official communication to the office of Senate President Vicente Sotto III, informing the latter that he cannot attend the hearing on Tuesday due to an "unforeseen medical emergency."

The PhilHealth official was diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome, hypertensive heart disease, and diabetes type 2, among others.

De Jesus, 61, was said to be admitted at the hospital since August 5 or a day after the previous Senate hearing.

He is scheduled to undergo an angiogram, angioplasty, and pulse generator replacement.

Sotto said he is open to let Morales attend the hearing via teleconference if the latter is not advised to go out. 

Senator Panfilo Lacson, in a message, said the PhilHealth officials' failure to attend Tuesday's hearing is "their loss."

"They won’t be there to respond to new issues that the resource persons will raise against them as well as to new incriminating documents in our possession," he said.

"Having said that, I wish PCEO Morales well in his fight against the big C. In all sincerity, I join his family in praying for his recovery. It is unfortunate that these new corruption issues have exploded at a time when his health condition is at its low point," Lacson added.

Meanwhile, in a radio interview on Saturday, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go said it is likely that President Rodrigo Duterte already knows about Morales' health condition.

"Parang sa tingin ko po, alam na po niya na may sakit po," Go said.

The senator added Morales is a friend to him and to the President, and they are saddened to hear the news.

"Oo nga po, nabalitaan ko nga. Nakakalungkot. Kaibigan namin si Gen. Morales, ng Pangulo. He is also from Davao," Go said.

The lawmaker added that they cannot force Morales to attend the Senate hearing.

However, the task force will continue to investigate the allegations against the agency officials, Go said.

"'Di naman po natin mapipilit sila dahil unang-una, buhay ng tao mas mahalaga sa atin. Pero andyan naman ang task force. Patuloy pong mag-iimbestiga 'yun and I hope magkakaroon ng kooperasyon from top to bottom," he said.

Duterte ordered the creation of an inter-agency task force to probe the allegations of anomalies in PhilHealth, Malacañang said Friday. The task force will be composed of the Department of Justice, Office of the Ombudsman, Commission on Audit, Civil Service Commission, Office of the Executive Secretary, Undersecretary Jesus Melchor Quitain of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission.

Go urged PhilHealth officials to cooperate with the task force.

"Sa mga opisyal ng PhilHealth, mag-cooperate na lang kayo sa imbestigasyon na gagawin ng executive department at kay Gen. de Villa. Dati po siyang doktor din sa health service ng Armed Forces at dati rin naming kilala. Ang pakiusap lang namin ay mag-cooperate sa magiging imbestigasyon at kung anuman ang totoo ay dapat sabihin para lang sa mga Filipino na nag-aantay ng katotohanan," he said. —KG, GMA News