MANILA, Philippines — The transfer of sleeping Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) resources could hurt the administration’s senatorial bets unless President Marcos uses his influence to stop the impounding of the remaining funds.
Independent health reform advocate Tony Leachon said the PhilHealth mess is an election issue but is hopeful Marcos might do another populist move.
This is in relation to the preliminary conference to be called by the Supreme Court (SC) today on the petitions to block the fund transfer.
“I hope SC will issue a TRO (temporary restraining order) before Oct. 16 or this will hurt BBM administration’s ticket during the midterm elections,” Leachon told The STAR.
The Bureau of the Treasury on Oct.16 is scheduled to receive P30 billion from PhilHealth – the third tranche out of the P89.9-billion “excess” funds. Based on the timeline, the fourth and final transfer is slated next month.
“I think BBM will concede, being a populist president. Remember the objection of the Filipino people of including PhilHealth, SSS (Social Security System) and GSIS (Government Service Insurance System) in the Maharlika funds, he blinked,” Leachon said.
Leachon is referring to the Maharlika Investment Fund which was originally drafted to include government social welfare entities as contributors.
Eventually, the pension funds were excluded in the law amid strong public clamor.
Political analyst and University of Santo Tomas professor Dennis Coronacion, for his part, argued that there is a possibility that the PhilHealth funds might be used for the election campaigns of the administration candidates.
“At around this time, the administration is usually busy scouring for campaign funds from the government coffers,” Coronacion told The STAR.
“This is why the SC should do its part in protecting PhilHealth funds by either issuing a restraining order or ruling against its transfer,” he said.
Two weeks ago, Marcos bared the 12 senatorial candidates that he will endorse for the May polls.
They are reelectionists Imee Marcos, Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Francis Tolentino and Bong Revilla, former senators Manny Pacquiao, Tito Sotto and Panfilo Lacson, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos, Makati Mayor Abby Binay, ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo and Las Piñas Rep. Camille Villar.