Medical condition of PhilHealth chief Morales, exec should not be questioned —Lacson

For Senator Panfilo Lacson, the health condition of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) chief Ricardo Morales and executive vice president Arnel De Jesus should not be questioned even as these came at a time when the agency is being investigated over its alleged irregularities.

Lacson made the remark on Saturday after the medical certificates of Morales and De Jesus were given to the Senate ahead of the continuation of its hearing on Tuesday.

"Itong particular case na ito, talagang dapat makibagay, makiramay. Kasi nag-alangan tayo noong nakaraan parang modus operandi. Kapag medyo nagigipit na biglang naka-wheelchair na. Pero ito totohanan naman ito," the senator said when asked in a radio interview if he suspects the timing of the issuance of the medical certificates.

"So let’s leave it at that and respect ang kanilang privacy and time na dapat magpagamot, magpagaling at magpahinga," he added.

Lacson said that even senators like him were exhausted after the hours-long hearing on the PhilHealth alleged corruption issues last week.

"I can just imagine sa kanilang end naman, lalong stressful yan. Kami nga na-stress, ako particularly pagkatapos ng hearing, kasama na siyempre ang inis," he said.

Morales' oncologist reportedly sent a medical certificate to the Senate Committee of the Whole Friday night. According to the medical certificate, Morales is undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with lymphoma, and his condition has made him immunocompromised and prone to infections.

The PhilHealth chief, 67, was advised by his doctor to take a leave of absence.

Sixty-one-year-old De Jesus, meanwhile, 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, who was diagnosed with various illnesses including acute coronary syndrome, hypertensive heart disease, and diabetes type 2, has been admitted at the hospital since August 5, and is scheduled to undergo an angiogram, angioplasty, and pulse generator replacement.

Lacson said he respects the advice of the doctors of the said PhilHealth officials as their conditions are matters that should be taken seriously.

"Respetuhin na rin natin kasi doktor na nga, 'di para pagdudahan natin ang integrity ng doktor na nagsasabing talagang meron siyang sakit," he said.

"Kapag health condition, talagang mababa ang loob ko. Ako particularly, I’m sure I can speak on behalf of my colleagues kasi sakit 'yan. Sino ba namang tao ang gusto magkasakit, except the others before alam nating nagsasakit-sakitan?" the senator added.

Nevertheless, it will be PhilHealth's loss if they cannot refute the new issues that will be raised in the next Senate hearing due to the absence of its high-ranking officials, Lacson said.

"Ang magiging epekto nito, sa PhilHealth… It’s their loss. Ang alam ko, may mga bagong sasabihin ang mga resource persons. Tapos may bago kaming documents na medyo incriminating," he said.

"Of course kawalan din namin kasi isang side lang marinig namin. Pero mas kawalan nila yan kasi hindi nila masasagot," Lacson added.

Morales has denied protecting corrupt officials in the agency after former anti-fraud legal officer Thorsson Montes Keith revealed that officials were able to steal some P15 billion from the state insurer through several fraudulent schemes. 

Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the creation of an inter-agency task force to probe the allegations of anomalies in PhilHealth.

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. —KG, GMA News