PhilHealth head, six others submit courtesy resignation

June 12, 2019

Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) acting president and CEO Roy Ferrer and six other presidential appointees have submitted their courtesy resignation.

In an interview, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said seven officials of PhilHealth, led by Ferrer, have complied with President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to submit courtesy resignation.

"Seven of them, including Dr Ferrer, have tendered their courtesy resignations. The six others were also presidential appointees serving as members of the PhilHealth board," said Duque.

He said Ferrer's resignation takes effect immediately with executive vice president and COO (chief operating officer) John Basa set to serve as officer-in-charge (OIC) upon his return from abroad on Monday.

"In the meantime, Senior Vice President Dennis Mas will assume the post until COO Basa arrives," said Duque.

Rex Mendoza, Jack Arroyo, Hildegardes Dineros, Celestina dela Serna, Roberto Salvador, and Joan Liban-Lareza, the health chief said they will remain as board members for the moment.

"As per Executive Secretary (Salvador Medialdea), they will continue to work until the acceptance of the President (of their resignation)," said Duque.

Duque said other top executive officials of PhilHealth are not eing asked to tender their resignation yet since they are career officials and are covered by the Civil Service Law.

"We are having this assessed first by our legal people. Because it is possible that they are not covered by this. But we can just file administrative charges against them, either with the CSC or the Ombudsman," said Duque.

Duterte on Monday night had demanded courtesy resignation of top officials of PhilHealth after reports that it continued paying claims of dialysis patients who had been dead.

News reports said Duterte is eyeing Jaime Cruz to head PhilHealth.

Duque said Cruz may be a good choice.

"We don't really need a doctor to lead PhilHealth. For me, it is more important that the person has the competence in financial investment and in income generation because that is the focus of PhilHealth," said Duque.

Cruz, who is a doctor, owns JTC Group of Companies, which franchises branded food concepts and homegrown brands.

Cruz is a member of the board of the Philippine Chinese Charitable Association Inc (PCCAI), which owns and operates the Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center. DMS