Philhealth top brass notifies Senate of medical condition

Last updated on May 6th, 2021 at 07:13 am

METRO MANILA  – Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) chief Ricardo Morales and executive vice president Arnel De Jesus have notified the Senate of their health conditions, ahead of the legislative hearing on corruption in the agency.

Philhealth President and CEO Ricardo Morales sent the medical certifical on Senate that he will be undergoing treatment for lymphoma, cancer of the lymph nodes where he was advised by the doctors to take a leave of absence.

According to Morales, he has been undergoing chemotheraphy since February and has asked the Senate if he can attend the meeting via zoom as his health condition are being compromised right now because of the chemotheraphy.

PhilHealth executive vice president Arnel de Jesus, on the otherhand, told Senate President Tito Sotto III that he will not be able to attend the inquiry due to a “medical emergency”.

CNN Philippines obtained a medical certificate indicating the de Jesus were admitted in the hospital last August 5 and was diagnosed with several cardiovascular diseases that would require a surgery.

Senator Panfilo Lacson said that its not the Senate’s loss that they won’t be able to attend as they won’t be present to defend theirselves to new issues that has been raised against them. A whistle blower on Tuesday made serious claim regarding the corruption within the agency. Among those are the allegations that the senior executives have stolen roughly ₱15 billion through different schemes.