Palace to follow SC ruling on PhilHealth funds

Malacañang will comply with the Supreme Court's forthcoming ruling on lawsuits questioning the transfer of billions of pesos of funds from PhilHealth to the national Treasury.

Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire B. Castro assured that the government will not oppose or resist whatever the Supreme Court mandates.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Kho, Jr. called for a major overhaul of PhilHealth, including changes to its board, due to its failure to fully implement mandated benefits for members.

Kho urged PhilHealth to ask President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to return the P60 billion in PhilHealth funds that were transferred to the national Treasury as unprogrammed funds.

He argued that these funds should instead be used to expand benefits, improve services, and hire additional personnel to address the country's healthcare needs.

The Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order halting the transfer of the remaining P29.9 billion, and a total of P89.9 billion in the agency's funds were questioned in the lawsuits.