Shortly after it was reported that PhilHealth officials have stolen over P15 billion in fraudulent schemes, Philhealth chief Ricardo Morales was reportedly advised by his doctor to take a leave while undergoing chemotherapy for lymphoma.
In a medical certificate submitted to the Senate Committee of the Whole on August 7, the attending oncologist of the PhilHealth president and CEO disclosed that Morales was “diagnosed case of Diffuse Large B cell lymphoma” and was going through cancer treatment at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center.
This means Morales will miss the continuation of the Senate investigation into PhilHealth set on Tuesday.
Medical references described the disease as an aggressive or fast-growing form of lymphoma that affects white blood cells, developing in lymph nodes. It is “considered potentially curable,” according to the US Lymphoma Research Foundation.
The copy of the medical certificate was submitted to the Senate, constituted as Committee of the Whole to look into alleged widespread corruption within the Philhealth.
“He is advised to complete 6 cycles of treatment during which he will be immunocompromised and vulnerable to opportunistic infections. It is, therefore, in his best interest that I have advised him to take a leave of absence,” said the oncologist.
Morales will go through a repeat PET CT scan following his chemotherapy cycles, “after which I shall make a recommendation when he can resume work,” the doctor said.
Another PhilHealth official, Executive Vice President and chief operating officer 7 of Philhealth Arnel De Jesus also sought to be excused from the next Senate hearing on August 11 “due to an unforeseen medical emergency.”
In his letter to Senate President Vicente Sotto III, De Jesus said he won’t be able to appear on the hearing and also attached his copy of his medical certificate. It cited 6 illnesses, including heart disease and diabetes.
“Rest assured I will make myself available when my health permits. I respectfully ask that my privacy be respected during this time,” read the letter.
The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. already rejected allegations of corruption against its executives.
“[PhilHealth] categorically denies in strongest terms that its senior officials have ‘pocketed’ some P15 billion,” a statement from the agency’s chief Ricardo Morales, posted on Facebook and Twitter, read.
Although the corporation already denied the allegations, netizens don’t believe their statement and even insisted that they’re just using their sickness as an excuse to evade the issue which just shows that they are guilty of the crime.
Actor and singer Inigo Pascual, MOR DJ Jhaiho, and music producer Roque “Rox” Santos questioned ABS-CBN’s biggest antagonists Representatives Rodante Marcoleta, Mike Defensor and Crispin Remulla’s silence regarding the corruption in the health insurance agency.
nakakabingi ang katahimikan ano. tsssss pic.twitter.com/GtviWiuIkW
— DJ Jhaiho (@mor1019jhaiho) August 7, 2020
— inigo
(@InigoDPascual) August 7, 2020
Marcoleta, Defensor, Remulla
pic.twitter.com/LgMMXBJTm6
— Roque Santos (@roxsantos) August 7, 2020
DDS be like,
— Roque Santos (@roxsantos) August 7, 2020
Talent manager Ogie Diaz also called out the 70 congressmen who voted for the ABS-CBN franchise denial for remaining quiet on the PhilHealth corruption.
Gusto ko, magalit din sa mga Involved sa corruption sa Philhealth ang 70 congressmen. Bakit nakabibinging katahimikan?
— ogie diaz (@ogiediaz) August 6, 2020
Actress Nikki Valdez also called out those who are very angry with the ABS-CBN yet have no comment on the corruption issue.
Kaway kaway po sa mga galit na galit nung hearings ng ABSCBN franchise pero tahimik sa Philhealth issue!
Pwede din po magalit ngayon. Thank you.
— NVG
(@nikkivaldez_) August 7, 2020
Pag may nagawa kang hindi maganda, hindi pwede ang easy way out. At kung wala talaga kayong ginawa or ginagawang mali, harapin ninyong lahat. Maysakit man o wala. https://t.co/CJrKusHW14
— NVG
https://twitter.com/nikkivaldez_/status/1291994661305716736?fbclid=IwAR24bUV3ui-I9M5oX5cPp_G3q8kXRlMfM-ei7SJhjUGK4YtRjVnxHzWv16Q
Reporter Kevin Manalo said that it is just right for people to speak up regarding the Philhealth issue because it is wrong for people to be blind to crime.
Sa totoo lang, kung walang nagreklamo o sumigaw wala tayong kaalam alam na bilyong piso na pala ang ninakaw sa kontribusyon natin sa PhilHealth.
“Tumahimik ka na lang, alam nila ang ginagawa nila.”
Kaya hindi, hindi pwedeng magbulag bulagan kung may mali sa ginagawa nila.
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) August 8, 2020
Pia Magalona, wife of late rapper Francis Magalona, and Gideon Lasco, physician and medical anthropologist, also spoke up and questioned the Philhealth officials’ ability to remain in the office if they were too sick.
For the CLAIMS!! #Philhealth https://t.co/XZLKTlQZK7
— Pia Magalona ⁷ (@piamagalona) August 8, 2020
If PhilHealth officials are too sick to attend Senate hearings, aren't they also too sick to remain in office?
Amid a public health crisis and allegations of obscene corruption, we need leaders who are morally and physically fit to lead our health agencies.
— Gideon Lasco (@gideonlasco) August 8, 2020
ABS-CBN writers, producers, and, journalists also shared their opinion on the issue.
You can’t fool Filipinos (again) with this old trick. What’s next? Another top PhilHealth official with a neck brace on a wheelchair? https://t.co/w65tCqs5al
— Nick Villavecer (@nickvillavecer) August 8, 2020
Wow, sabay sabay nagkasakit ang mga loko. Coincidence? Maybe not. https://t.co/w65tCqs5al
— Nick Villavecer (@nickvillavecer) August 8, 2020
Prelude to a resignation, or at least to taking a leave of absence from the scandal-ridden #PhiliHealth? Or skipping the Senate inquiry? https://t.co/U69dMJKkci
— Lynda Jumilla-Abalos (@lyndajumilla) August 8, 2020
Netizens likened the Philhealth officials’ sudden health issues with former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo when she was charged with corruption. They said that the only way to escape the issue was to wear a neck brace just like the former president.
https://twitter.com/krizzy_kalerqui/status/1292024297892933632?fbclid=IwAR2-ku5yfysQDw113pQEEemgCRFXplYxF4guuK3Ob_nhhiopTjPyeZeMHXg
ika nga ay "narinig ko na 'yan" https://t.co/WoKUqgG7cU pic.twitter.com/hL4WKpnCk5
— patrick (@patrickjosefdc) August 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/joshleyson/status/1291968678926286850?fbclid=IwAR2jQGceU2SbSf5I-XnpuwyFRslCSsspnkI1uNSzT8qAwADUmf4Q0lbWPl8
Many netizens believe that the health issues of the Philhealth officials aree just an excuse or made up.
And that’s how you get away from plunder. https://t.co/4v9OvQAnh5
— Jules Guiang (@julesguiang) August 8, 2020
Kanya-kanyang palusot para 'di umattend sa Senate hearing on PhilHealth and corruption. May Zoom na po. Hindi kailangan ng wheelchair para sumagot sa mga tanong.
Masyado kayong obvious. #15B #corruption #PhilHealth #syndicate
— The Professional Heckler™️ (@hecklerforever8) August 8, 2020
It would be an irony for Philhealth to be headed by someone who is unhealthy.
— Ruffy Biazon (@ruffybiazon) August 8, 2020
Kaloka, mga taga-PhilHealth tapos biglang nagka-health problems.
— HIDILYN KLUM (@Punongbayan_) August 8, 2020
Tanong lang….
Sa hearing para sa ABS-CBN franchise, no one called in sick. Walang nagkasakit. Ang mga officials ng ABS pumunta sila sa hearing para sagutin yung mga tanong.
Bakit sa Philhealth, biglang dami may sakit at hindi maka attend sa hearing??
— Goyo Y. Larrazabal (@GoyoYLarrazabal) August 8, 2020
NILITERAL NG MGA PHILHEALTH OFFICIALS ANG KATAGANG
'HEALTH IS WEALTH'
— spike siegel (@kadilemman) August 7, 2020
Classic. We’ve all seen this before. And yeah, we didn’t like the ending.
Waiting for that wheelchair moment then miraculously healed after corruption issue gradually vanishes.https://t.co/vVoQZO8cJS
— Kerwin King (@imkerwinking) August 8, 2020
