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PhilHealth officer resigns due to 'widespread corruption' in agency

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/tvpatrol/07/15/philhealth.jpg"/><figcaption>A man looks at the sign of a PhilHealth local office in Quezon City, June 7, 2019. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/file</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - An anti-fraud legal officer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Thursday tendered his resignation due to alleged widespread corruption in the agency.</p><p>In a letter addressed to PhilHealth president and CEO Ricardo Morales, lawyer Thorrsson Montes Keith said he was also stepping down from his post because of alleged unfair job promotion process.</p><p>Keith also cited the delayed salaries and hazard pay as reason for his resignation, which allegedly started when he investigated some officers in the state-run insurance agency, he wrote in his letter obtained by ABS-CBN News.</p><p>The lawyer also stated he strongly opposes the mandatory payment of PhilHealth contribution by overseas Filipino workers because it was unconstitutional.</p><p>&quot;It is against my personal values to let the OFWs pay for the spillages of PhilHealth,&quot; he said.</p><p>In closing, Keith said, &quot;I think it is better for me to resign and let the course of things go its way.&quot;</p><p>He did not provide details about his allegations.</p><p>PhilHealth, meanwhile, has yet to issue a statement regarding the issue, as of posting.</p><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/tvpatrol/07/15/letter.jpg"/></figure></div><p>In May, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered PhilHealth to make premium payments for OFWs voluntary after thousands signed an online petition protesting the agency&#x27;s rate hike.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/04/20/duterte-orders-philhealth-to-make-premium-payments-voluntary-for-ofws">Duterte orders PhilHealth to make premium payments voluntary for OFWs</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/04/20/philhealth-says-collections-suspended-as-rate-hike-for-ofws-draws-ire">PhilHealth says collections suspended as rate hike for OFWs draws ire</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/03/20/they-will-not-benefit-at-all-locsin-hits-hike-in-ofws-philhealth-contribution-rate">&#x27;They will not benefit at all&#x27;: Locsin hits hike in OFWs&#x27; PhilHealth contribution rate</a></li></ul><p>In June, the PhilHealth chief also belied allegations of P154 billion in missing funds and a supposed large-scale syndicate defrauding the agency.</p><p>This, after presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Morales allegedly failed to curb corruption in PhilHealth due to crooks in the agency.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/22/20/philhealth-chief-belies-corruption-syndicate-billions-of-missing-funds">PhilHealth chief belies corruption &#x27;syndicate,&#x27; billions of missing funds</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/19/20/roque-hits-back-at-philhealth-chief-you-failed-to-clean-up-philhealth">Roque hits back at PhilHealth chief: You failed to clean up corruption</a></li></ul><div><strong>- With a report from Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News</strong></div>

<p>An anti-fraud legal officer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Thursday tendered his resignation due to alleged widespread corruption in the agency.</p>

An anti-fraud legal officer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Thursday tendered his resignation due to alleged widespread corruption in the agency.