The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has committed to adhering to the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking the transfer of P29.9 billion in excess funds to the national treasury.
Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra also expressed respect for the SC’s decision, noting that his office previously sought to have the petition questioning PhilHealth’s excess funds dismissed, arguing that the transfer was lawful and did not infringe on citizens’ right to health.
The Department of Finance (DOF) echoed its support for the SC’s intervention, with Finance Secretary Ralph Recto affirming that, as a public servant, he respects citizens’ right to seek remedies through the courts and assures that the DOF will comply with the order.
Secretary Recto reiterated, however, that transferring surplus funds from government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) is mandated under the General Appropriations Act 2024, as approved by Congress.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court issued a TRO to halt the transfer of PhilHealth’s surplus reserve funds to the national treasury, consolidating the petitions from 1SAMBAYAN Coalition along with earlier cases filed by Senator Koko Pimentel and Bayan Muna Chair Neri Colmenares.
The three petitions challenge the reallocation of GOCC excess reserve funds to support unprogrammed appropriations, and the SC has requested responses from the petition’s respondents within 10 days regarding 1Sambayan’s TRO application.