Senator Panfilo Lacson said outgoing PhilHealth President Ricardo Morales could still face charges related to the alleged anomalies in the agency despite his resignation.
“I feel sorry for him hindi sa ano pa man, Cavalier ko siya o ano pa man pero dahil sa kalagayan niya, ang kaniyang kalusugan,” Lacson said in a radio interview.
“I still wish him well, sana maka-recover siya sa cancer, though hindi maiaalis na baka may kaharapin siyang legal problems dahil sa ilalabas na committee report ni Senate President [Vicente] Sotto,” he added.
Lacson said the documents and testimonies the Senate Committee of the Whole is holding complement each other.
Morales went on medical leave amid the Senate inquiry on the alleged anomalies in PhilHealth because of his lymphoma.
He earlier announced he would submit his resignation after President Rodrigo Duterte asked him to leave his post due to this medical condition.
“Nagpapasalamat na rin ako sa Pangulo na pinayagan niya akong magpahinga. Maaatupag ko na iyong aking kalusugan at iyong aking pamilya,” he told ABS-CBN’s TeleRadyo.
Also read: Morales, 13 other PhilHealth execs sign bank secrecy waivers
Morales could still face charges despite resignation
(I also thank the President that he allowed me to rest. I can now take care of my health and my family.)
Meanwhile, Lacson said “As far as pagkaalam kong personal kung ebidensya at ebidensya ang pag-uusapan, mukhang ‘di siya masasaklaw… kasi minsan lang siya nag-appear. Ang board wala namang nag-implicate sa board,” when asked if Health Secretary Francisco Duque III who serves as chair of the PhilHealth Board, could also face charges.
Malacañang earlier said Duterte still trusts Health Secretary Francisco Duque III despite his alleged involvement in the anomalies surrounding PhilHealth.
“He does because if he has ceased to have trust and confidence, then Secretary Duque would no longer be in office,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told CNN Philippines in an interview.
Resigned PhilHealth anti-fraud legal officer Thorrsson Montes Keith accused in a Senate hearing on Tuesday that Duque is the “godfather” of top PhilHealth officials allegedly involved in corruption since he approved the appointments of the officials belonging to the so-called “mafia” in the state insurer.