Sunday, May 28, 2023

Spox. Roque To Morales: Health Should Come First

Spotlight

Medical Experts Recommend Strict Health Protocols For Public Transportation

Medical experts are calling for strict health protocols among commuters to be able to increase the public transport capacity which is currently operating on...

Commuters Call For Increase Of Seating Capacity On Public Utility Vehicles, Urges DOH To Release Data Breakdown To Stop Undue Worry

In cities with a limited number of public transport vehicles plying the road, the commuting sector is asking government to consider increasing jeepney’s seating...

Clean Air Philippines Movement Inc. (CAPMI) Releases Statement On Social Distancing

The Clean Air Philippines Movement Inc. (CAPMI) releases statement on social distancing on mass transport. According to CAPMI, in order to reduce physical distancing inside...

24K Jeepney, Tricycle, and UV Express Drivers Receive Food Packs From SM Foundation

Over 24,000 drivers were given relief goods from the SM Foundation.



Malacañang on Thursday advised cancer-stricken Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) president and chief executive officer Ricardo Morales to prioritize his health amid the controversies hounding the state-owned corporation.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said while there is no advice from President Rodrigo Duterte, it would be best for Morales to focus on his health.

“Bagama’t hindi naman po siya sinasabihan ng Presidente kung ano ang dapat gawin, talagang health should come first. Sa akin, tutukan na muna niya ang kaniyang kalusugan (While the President has not said anything, health should come first. For me, he should focus on his health first),” Roque said in an interview with dzBB.

He issued the statement a day after he said Duterte would not pressure Morales into resigning, considering the PhilHealth chief’s health condition.

Morales, who has been diagnosed with lymphoma or cancer of the lymph nodes, will take a medical leave starting next week as he was advised by his doctor to undergo six cycles of chemotherapy.

His disclosure that he has cancer came after Duterte ordered the Department of Justice to lead the task force that would investigate the supposed rampant corruption within PhilHealth.

Roque expressed confidence that the task force would be able to resolve the issues that continue to plague PhilHealth.

“Lahat naman iyang kontrobersiya na iyan sa PhilHealth, lahat po iyan ay malalabas ang katotohanan (The truth about all the controversies involving PhilHealth will be revealed), but health should come first,” he said.

PhilHealth was once again mired in controversies after resigned anti-fraud legal officer Thorsson Montes Keith bared that all members of PhilHealth’s executive committee have stolen PHP15 billion from the agency’s funds.

Roque said he was dismayed by Morales’ failure to address the widespread corruption in PhilHealth under his leadership.

“Pinalakas pa niya ang kanilang mga posisyon na para bagang ni-reward pa niya imbes na imbestigahan. So, parang tingin ko doon lang nagkulang siguro si Gen. Morales, mali iyong tiwalang inilagay niya (He gave them more power instead of investigating them. The way I see it, Gen. Morales failed to act on it. He put his trust on the wrong persons),” he said.

To stop suspicion on their possible involvement in corrupt activities, most of the senior officials of PhilHealth on Wednesday agreed with House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte to open their bank accounts to scrutiny by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

However, Morales, along with PhilHealth executive vice president Arnel de Jesus and senior vice president Rodolfo del Rosario Jr., failed to respond to the challenge posed by Villafuerte as they left the House hearing early due to health reasons.

Roque expressed optimism that Morales would also sign a bank secrecy waiver to allow AMLC to check his bank deposits and transactions.

“Siguro po, kaya naman hindi nakapagbigay ng consent si Gen. Morales, naiintindihan ko na masama pa rin ang kaniyang pakiramdam at umalis na siya ng maaga (It’s understandable that Gen. Morales failed to give his consent because he was not feeling well and he left early). I’m sure Gen. Morales will also sign such a waiver,” he said. (PNA)




[fbcomments width=”1000″]

Latest News

Medical Experts Recommend Strict Health Protocols For Public Transportation

Medical experts are calling for strict health protocols among commuters to be able to increase the public transport capacity which is currently operating on...

Commuters Call For Increase Of Seating Capacity On Public Utility Vehicles, Urges DOH To Release Data Breakdown To Stop Undue Worry

In cities with a limited number of public transport vehicles plying the road, the commuting sector is asking government to consider increasing jeepney’s seating...

Clean Air Philippines Movement Inc. (CAPMI) Releases Statement On Social Distancing

The Clean Air Philippines Movement Inc. (CAPMI) releases statement on social distancing on mass transport. According to CAPMI, in order to reduce physical distancing inside...

Gov’t Reminds Filipino Healthcare Workers Of Deployment Ban

The national government is reminding Filipino healthcare workers of a temporary deployment ban in the wake of the public health emergency caused by the...

Plans Need Harmonized Response Up To Local Level: Galvez

The second phase of the government's national action plan (NAP) against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic seeks to ensure smooth crisis response from the...

‘Strict’ Enforcement Of Localized Lockdowns In GCQ Zones Ordered

Despite the further relaxation of quarantine rules nationwide, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) has ordered the “strict”...

No More Extension Of Moratorium For LSI, ROFs

The city government will no longer extend the requested moratorium on the arrival of locally stranded individuals (LSIs) and returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) coming...

24K Jeepney, Tricycle, and UV Express Drivers Receive Food Packs From SM Foundation

Over 24,000 drivers were given relief goods from the SM Foundation.

SM Foundation Allocates Ventilators To Hospitals With High COVID-19 Cases

SM Foundation donates 25 ICU-grade ventilators to hospitals with high COVID-19 cases across the country, as part of its continuing pandemic response.