The Supreme Court (SC) concluded yesterday the oral arguments on the consolidated petitions seeking to block the transfer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) excess funds back to the national treasury.
“Considering that the oral argument has been concluded, we will require the parties to submit their respective memoranda, including the amicus curiae please, within 30 days from today,” Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo said.
Gesmundo said this is non-extendible. The oral arguments were held at the SC compound in Baguio City.
During the hearing, Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Mario Lopez asked whether the excess funds will be used for other purposes irrelevant to the purpose of Philhealth.
“Once there is a fund balance, this becomes a general fund that can be used for any other purpose,” said Lopez, chairperson of SC’s Health and Welfare Committee.
In response, Government Corporate Counsel Solomon Hermosura noted that “PhilHealth, under its charter, is required to always use its funds under its purpose.”
Finance Secretary Ralph Recto explained that “upon consultation with economic managers, it will be used from health to health.”
This is why the administration has already paid off more than P100 billion that the government owes to frontliners, he said.
The high tribunal tackled the petitions filed by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, the Philippine Medical Association, the 1SAMBAYAN Coalition, and Bayan Muna chairperson Neri Colmenares and others.
The petitioners asked the SC to block the transfer of PhilHealth’s excess funds amounting to P89.9 billion back to the national treasury.
The High Court issued a temporary restraining order last year to halt the transfer of the remaining P29.9 billion.