Malacañang on Sunday said the task force formed to look into alleged corruption and anomalies within the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) would push through with its investigation regardless of the health conditions of the insurance firm’s officials.
Palace spokesman Harry Roque said the task force, formed by the Department of Justice, would “proceed in its mandate to investigate on the various allegations of corruption in PhilHealth, including the audit of PhilHealth finances and the conduct of lifestyle checks on its officials and employees.”
President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the creation of the investigating body last Aug. 7.
“There is no turning back as we expect the task force to submit its findings and recommendations to the Office of the President within 30 days after its constitution as directed by the chief executive,” Roque said.
PhilHealth had written the Senate that its president and CEO, Ricardo Morales, was dealing with lymphoma, or cancer of the lymph nodes, and needed chemotherapy. The letter was leaked to the press.
In a statement on Sunday, Morales clarified that he had “every intention” to attend the Senate hearing on Aug. 11, via digital means.
“It is my duty to represent the corporation while still physically capable. I regret that my privacy was not respected,” Morales said, referring to the disclosure of his medical condition. John Ezekiel J. Hirro