SC to Palace, Congress: Comment on PhilHealth fund transfer

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered lawmakers and concerned executive officials to comment on a petition seeking to block the impounding of P89.90 billion in “excess funds” from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).

The SC Public Information Office said the respondents to the petition have been given 10 days from notice to submit their comments.

The petition, filed by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, former finance undersecretary Cielo Magno, constitutional law expert Dante Gatmaytan and the Philippine Medical Association, seeks the issuance by the SC of a temporary restraining order and/or a writ of preliminary injunction to prevent the transfer of funds from PhilHealth to the national treasury.

They likewise challenged Section 1(d) of XLIII of the General Appropriations Act 2024 and Department of Finance Circular 003-2023, which allows the return of excess reserve funds of government-owned and controlled corporations to the national treasury to fund unprogrammed appropriations.

The petitioners also asked the high tribunal to undo and restrain the effects of Department of Finance (DOF) Circular 003-2024, and the assailed provision in the General Appropriations Act 2024 pending resolution of the case.

They also asked the SC to order the DOF to return to PhilHealth any funds that may have been transferred following the circular.

Of the P89.9 billion, P20 billion had already been transmitted to the national treasury while the rest would be released on a staggered basis, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto earlier said.

Named as respondents were the House of Representatives, the Senate, the DOF, PhilHealth, and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.