Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua is an ideal replacement to lead the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. amid allegations of corruption and claims of impending bankruptcy.

Chua was appointed as acting secretary of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in April after its former head Ernesto Pernia resigned due to supposed differences with other Cabinet members.

PhilHealth President and CEO Ricardo Morales is scheduled to go on medical leave starting next week to continue his lymphoma treatments.

Zubiri said he never heard any complaint regarding Chua’s credibility, especially on his work ethics.

“He’s my choice. Ang pinakamaganda ilagay bilang pinuno ng PhilHealth ay isang finance expert,” Zubiri said.

There had been calls for President Rodrigo Duterte to appoint a PhilHealth “caretaker” while the state insurer is being investigated.