Camp of ex-PhilHealth chief Morales denies any wrongdoing after task force bares findings

The camp of resigned Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) President and CEO Ricardo Morales on Tuesday denied “any wrongdoing” after a Department of Justice-led task force recommended the filing of several charges against him for graft.

According to Maki Pulido’s report on “24 Oras,” Morales’ legal spokesman Arnedo Valera said the former PhilHealth chief “invokes at this time his basic Constitutional right of presumption of Innocence.”

“Our client is a man of integrity and completely denies any wrongdoings and the criminal charges against him,” he maintained.

“His attorneys… will vigorously defend Gen. Morales and will appropriately respond to the criminal complaints either before the Department of Justice and or before the Ombudsman,” Valera added.

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier approved the recommendation to file charges against Morales, PhilHealth Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Arnel De Jesus, and several other officials of the state health insurer. 

“On the part of the key officials, ito kasi 'yung nag-withhold ng information, nag-conceal ng documents to get the Board's approval. 'Yun 'yung nakitaan ng Task Force ng gross and inexcusable negligence which became the basis for the recommendation to file criminal and administrative complaints,” Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said. 

De Jesus, meanwhile, vowed to cooperate with further investigations into the multi-billion peso corruption controversy hounding PhilHealth. 

"May the said report, which is also based on the recent Congressional hearings, guide the proper authorities in pursuing those who had been culpable of wrongdoing and exonerate those that are innocent,” he said in a statement.

Other members of the PhilHealth’s executive committee have not yet responded to GMA News’ requests for comment.

The officials implicated in the corruption scandal attended the regular executive committee meeting earlier on Tuesday.

"Trabaho po natin ito sa bayan, ano po? So despite the cases being readied against some of our colleagues ay mayroon pong mga tatrabahuhin. At inaasahan po ng mga taumbayan na araw-araw ay ginagawa po natin itong mga katungkulan namin," PhilHealth spokesman Rey Balena said.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra earlier said more people may be charged as investigations into PhilHealth continue.  — Julia Mari Ornedo/BM, GMA News