SC concludes oral arguments on transfer of PhilHealth reserve funds
PhilHealth offices. Inquirer Photo/Grig Montegrande
MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court on Thursday concluded its oral arguments on the consolidated petitions challenging the legality of the transfer of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) reserve funds to the National Treasury.
The oral arguments were held for five different days starting Feb. 21, before finally concluding on Thursday, April 3 in Baguio City.
“This afternoon the oral argument was concluded after all the Justices had given their interpolation,” said Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo in concluding the arguments.
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“Considering that the oral argument has been concluded, we will require parties to submit the respective memoranda and including the amici, within 30 days today, non-extendible,” he added.
The SC tackled three total petitions, one of which was filed by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, which sought to block the transfer of PhilHealth funds to the national treasury. The others—filed by Bayan Muna and 1Sambayan—questioned the transfer’s constitutionality.
Of PhilHealth’s P89.90 billion excess funds—P20 billion has already been transferred to the national treasury on May 10, 2024. This is followed by P10 billion in August and P30 billion in October of the same year.
The remaining P29.90 billion was supposed to be transferred in November 2024 but was halted through a temporary restraining order from the SC.
