Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque confirmed that six regionall officers of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) have filed for leave of absence.
According to Roque, the officials who filed for temporary leave were not the state-health insurance staff involved in the corruption issue.
These six officials, however, are not the “mafia” referred to by Senator Panfilo Lacson. They were, in fact, referred to as “heroes” by PhilHealth board member Alejandro Cabading during his Senate testimonies. “
This move by the regional officers is said to be in response to the call of Justice Sec. Menardo Guevarra.
“For those whose names are mentioned in the investigation to go on leave. We consider this as the right and proper thing to do. ”
Malacanang stressed the Justice secretary’s appeal to other Philhealth Executive Committee members who also complied with the filing of leave while the investigation progressed.
“The Palace reiterates the call of the DOJ Secretary, who heads the PhilHealth Task Force, for those officers under investigation, particularly the members of the Executive Committee (ExeCom) who have been named in the investigations of both Senate and House, to follow their action and go on leave. ”
