Marcoleta wants proof PhilHealth execs who left House hearing are not ‘malingering’ illness

Deputy Speaker and SAGIP Party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta slammed top officials of Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), including its chief executive officer Ricardo Morales, for their abrupt departure in the middle of a House of Representatives panel probe into the state insurer’s alleged corruption and anomalies.

Morales, who initially attended the House committee on good government and public accountability hearing via video conference, left the congressional probe “because he is not feeling well.”

The PhilHealth chief earlier disclosed he is undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma and that he is set to be on medical leave starting next week.

PhilHealth senior vice president Rodolfo del Rosario also left the video conference due to high blood pressure, while senior vice president Arnel de Jesus is not available as he is confined in a hospital and undergoing a procedure to replace a battery in his pacemaker.

Irked that key officials of the state insurer were not available for questioning, Marcoleta asked the panel chair Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor if the officials who claimed they have health issues have sent evidence of their illness.

“Disappointed po ako sapagkat hindi lang po siya ang wala, ngayon pati mga key officials,” the lawmaker said.

“Sila po ba ay nagbigay sa atin ng ebidensiya na sila ay hindi pupwedeng pumunta ng plenary? Ano ba ang binigay na ebidensya na sila ay [may sakit]... if they are not malingering? What evidence to prove they are really sick?” Marcoleta asked.

For his part, Defensor acknowledged that he knew beforehand that Morales is sick, but “in the case of Mr. de Jesus and del Rosario, I’m not informed of their condition.”

“Puwedeng hingan [sila] ng pruweba sa susunod na heariing kung sila ay talagang nagkasakit,” Defensor said.

The Anakalusugan lawmaker emphasized that if proven that the PhilHealth officials are “malingering” their illness the Congress can hold them in contempt.

“Ang tingin ko po they are malingering... may kasabihan nga na ‘lightning does not strike on the same place twice.’ Ngayon, tatlong tao na magpapaliwanag ay biglang nagkasakit,” Marcoleta said.

Defensor then ordered the committee secretary to write letters to be sent to the PhilHealth officials in question “to show cause not to issue an order of contempt.” -MDM, GMA News