Emmanuel Ledesma Jr. 鈥擯HOTO FROM PHILHEALTH FB PAGE
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Former Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) head Emmanuel Ledesma resigned from his post because he struggled with the role and is 鈥渘ot used to politics,鈥� President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. revealed on Thursday.
READ: Orthopedic surgeon Edwin Mercado is new PhilHealth president, CEO
In a Palace briefing, Marcos was asked why there had been a sudden change in leadership in the state health insurer.
Dr. Edwin Mercado, last January 4, took an oath before Marcos as the new president and chief executive officer of PhilHealth.
鈥淲ell, yes, he [Ledesma] left his position already. Sabi niya that nahihirapan na rin yata siya sa ano, with all of the鈥� Hindi siya sanay sa pulitika,鈥� Marcos said.
(He said that he鈥檚 probably struggling with all of it, and he鈥檚 not used to politics.)
鈥淟edesma very much comes from the private sector. So, I think he found the transition to be jarring, shall we say,鈥� he added.
Ledesma鈥檚 replacement came at the wake of criticisms for his alleged 鈥渋nefficient鈥� utilization of the PhilHealth fund.
Group Nagkaisa Labor Coalition urged Marcos last December to remove Ledesma and the entire PhilHealth board after Congress slapped the state health insurer with a zero subsidy in the 2025 General Appropriations Act.