SC orders respondents to comment on PhilHealth fund transfer case
MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has required the respondents of a petition challenging the transfer of unused Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) funds to provide their comments.
In a press conference on Thursday, SC spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting said the High Court’s en banc made the decision during a session on August 13.
READ: Petition filed at SC vs PhilHealth fund transfer, cites constitutionality
“The Court required the respondents to file their Comment to the petition and prayer for TRO [temporary restraining order] within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice,” she said.
“The Court further required the Office of the Clerk of Court En Banc to personally serve the Court’s resolution on the respondents, which shall likewise personally file and serve its Comment,” Ting added.
On August 2, several groups and individuals led by Senator Koko Pimentel filed a petition at the SC against the diversion of P89.9 billion excess PhilHealth funds to the unprogrammed appropriations in the national budget.
The respondents, on the other hand, are Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, the House of Representatives represented by Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, the Senate represented by Senate President Francis Escudero, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, and PhilHealth represented by its President Emmanuel Ledesma Jr.
READ: Recto favors better PhilHealth benefits over reduced contributions
The petitioners challenged Section 1(d) of XLIII of the General Appropriations Act 2024 and Department of Finance Circular 003-2023, which allow the return of excess reserve funds of government-owned and controlled corporations to the national treasury.
Additionally, they seek a TRO and/or writ of preliminary injunction to prevent the transfer of funds from PhilHealth to the National Treasury, as well as to preserve the status of petitioners prior to the transfer of P20 billion from PhilHealth to the National Treasury last May 2024.
