PhilHealth offices. Inquirer Photo/Grig Montegrande
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Supreme Court on Thursday concluded its oral arguments on the consolidated petitions challenging the legality of the transfer of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation鈥檚 (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.
鈥淭his afternoon the oral argument was concluded after all the Justices had given their interpolation,鈥� said Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo in concluding the arguments.
搁贰础顿:听SC justice questions Congress鈥� right to decide PhilHealth budget
鈥淐onsidering 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,鈥� he added.
The SC tackled three total petitions, one of which was filed by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino 鈥淜oko鈥� Pimentel III, which sought to block the transfer of PhilHealth funds to the national treasury. The others鈥攆iled by Bayan Muna and 1Sambayan鈥攓uestioned the transfer鈥檚 constitutionality.
Of PhilHealth鈥檚 P89.90 billion excess funds鈥擯20 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.