SC asked: Issue TRO ASAP on PhilHealth fund transfer

MANILA, Philippines — A senior administration lawmaker from Mindanao yesterday urged the Supreme Court to immediately issue a temporary restraining order to stop further transfers of funds from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to the national treasury and prevent the dissipation of the money.

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez made the appeal after SC spokesperson Camille Sue Mae Ting said the high court might act on petitions questioning the constitutionality of the transfer of P89.9 billion in PhilHealth funds to the treasury earlier than the hearing it has scheduled for Jan. 14 next year.

In a statement, Rodriguez said that “unless a restraining order is issued immediately, PhilHealth could turn over the balance of almost P60 billion to the treasury as early as next weekend.”

Rodriguez explained that PhilHealth already transferred P20 billion last May 10 and the balance of the P89.9 billion is to be turned over between next month and December this year.

Rodriguez also urged President Marcos to order the Department of Finance and the Department of Budget and Management to withhold the use of the transferred PhilHealth funds in deference to the high tribunal.

He said the President should also ask PhilHealth to hold any further remittance.

Rodriguez warned that the executive department might be accused of bad faith and lack of prudence if it uses the funds while the petitions are pending.