Lorenzana believes Morales not involved in PhilHealth 'anomalies,' just overwhelmed

As far as Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana is concerned, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) President and CEO Ricardo Morales is not involved in the anomalies in the state insurer.

In a television interview on Monday, Lorenzana said Morales, a retired military general like him, could just be overwhelmed with the work at PhilHealth. He said he knows Morales personally as a man of integrity.

"I know him personally and I don't think he has been involved in some of the anomalies there. It so happened na siya 'yung nasa helm so kailangan niya sagutin 'yung mga tanong ng Senate and any investigator," Lorenzana told ANC.

"I think he was overwhelmed and hindi rin niya siguro nakita doon [kung] ano ang dapat gawin, after one year, ganoon pa rin ang problema. Tapos pumutok ang pandemic, maybe without the pandemic hindi lalabas 'yan," he added. 

He said being the head of the agency, Morales should answer the allegations against PhilHealth before any investigating body, including the Senate.

The alleged corruption hit the headlines after PhilHealth’s former anti-fraud legal officer Thorrsson Montes Keith linked a "mafia" within the agency to a missing P15-billion fund. He claimed that the PhilHealth "mafia" has deep roots in the agency, including top officials in the executive committee.

PhilHealth has since denied the allegations.

Over the weekend, Morales and executive vice president Arnel De Jesus disclosed their "unfavorable medical conditions" to the Senate ahead of the continuation of the Senate investigation on Tuesday.

Earlier reports said Morales' oncologist had sent a medical certificate to the Senate Committee of the Whole to inform the body that the PhilHealth chief is undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with lymphoma.

Morales was advised by his doctor to take a leave of absence. Morales, in a television interview on Monday, said he is seeking medical leave. —KBK, GMA News