President Rodrigo Duterte ordered an investigation into the Philippine Health Insurance Corp’s (PhilHealth) alleged overpriced procurement of an information technology system, Malacanang said yesterday.
Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr made the statement following reports that three PhilHealth officials resigned from their respective posts because of the supposed widespread corruption within the agency.
“The Palace confirms that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has ordered an investigation into the alleged anomalies surrounding the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth). The chief executive has asked Undersecretary Jesus Melchor Quitain of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President to conduct the probe on PhilHealth,” Roque said in a statement.
Roque confirmed that he had received a copy of the letter of Thorsson Montes Keith, anti-legal fraud officer of the agency, who cited the “widespread corruption in PhilHealth” as among the PhilHealth official’s reasons to quit his post.
He encouraged Keith to co-operate with Duterte’s office by substantiating claims about the supposedly rampant corruption within PhilHealth.
Earlier, PhilHealth has said that it has yet to officially receive the letter of resignation of one of its officers amid allegations of corruption in the agency. Sources disclosed to Manila Times late Thursday that there was tension during an online meeting of the PhilHealth executive committee, which led to the resignations of three of its officials, anti-fraud officer, lawyer Keith; Head Executive Assistant Etrobal Laborte; and corporate legal counsel Roberto Labe Jr. In his resignation letter obtained by the newspaper, Keith said that he opposed the implementation of the mandatory payment of PhilHealth contributions by Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), because it was “unconstitutional” as it was not part of the Universal Health Care (UHC) law. He also cited the “rampant and patent unfairness of the promotion of officers in the state health insurer”, delayed release of his salary and hazard pay since the investigation on officers of PhilHealth started, and “widespread corruption”.
In a statement, PhilHealth said that it has yet to receive the resignation letter of Keith, but added that his grievances about his promotion should have been resolved through a process. It also reminded Keith to substantiate his accusations so that proper procedures could be initiated. 
PhilHealth also said Laborte tendered his resignation in the middle of July, which will take effect on August 31, to continue his doctoral studies, while Labe “vehemently denied” any news of his resignation.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told reporters in a media forum yesterday that the DoH was looking into the incident and was waiting for PhilHealth to release its report.