00:00The Oral Argument in the Supreme Court of the Philippines
00:03on the transfer of the excess funds of PhilHealth
00:05to be used in other projects
00:07is in the defense of the government
00:09that it is in accordance with the law
00:11and a police force to disrupt the economy
00:14pointed out by Salima, the referendum.
00:20In the Oral Argument in the Supreme Court
00:23petitioners were asked
00:24why the transfer of the unutilized funds
00:28or unutilized funds of PhilHealth
00:30to other projects.
00:32Particularly, they pointed out
00:34the Circular of the Department of Finance
00:36and the provision of the General Appropriations Act
00:39that provided a way for the return
00:41of almost Php90 billion of PhilHealth's funds
00:44to the National Treasury.
00:46PhilHealth first remitted Php60 billion
00:49back to the National Treasury last year
00:52while the Supreme Court stopped
00:54the remitting of Php29.9 billion
00:57following the repeal of the petition against this.
01:00The question provision in the DOF Circular
01:03is inconsistent, incompatible, and irreconcilable
01:06with the Universal Health Care Act
01:08and the syntax laws.
01:09UHC's objective is clear
01:12to provide social health insurance
01:14and risk protection to all Filipinos.
01:16In computing the alleged fund balance,
01:18DOF defied the clear language of the syntax laws
01:22stating that these funds be used exclusively
01:25for universal health care.
01:26These funds were sourced from syntaxes
01:29and cannot be used for other purposes
01:31irrespective of how noble the purpose is.
01:35Secretary Ralph Recto,
01:38Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa,
01:40Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatsalian,
01:43and former PhilHealth President Emanuele Desma Jr.
01:47The Office of the Solicitor General
01:49and the Office of the Government Corporate Council
01:51are the ones to blame
01:53and the other respondents
01:54in the Office of the President, Senate, and Camera.
01:57The government's efforts are legal
01:59and in accordance with the law
02:01to transfer funds.
02:03It was the Executive and Legislative Department's way
02:08of creating and implementing a fiscal policy
02:12to boost economic growth
02:15without bloating the government's indebtedness
02:18or burdening the people with new tax measures.
02:23It is a common sense approach
02:25that does not violate any law
02:28much less the Constitution in any way.
02:32I assure the Honorable Court and the people that
02:36contrary to what has been portrayed by some critics
02:40there was no dark or sinister plan
02:43behind the transfer.
02:45The Solicitor General also asked to remove
02:49President Bongbong Marcos as a respondent
02:52because the President has immunity from suit
02:54while he is in office.
02:56Three petitions against the transfer of PhilHealth funds
02:59were submitted to the Supreme Court.
03:01It has been consolidated.
03:03It means that both parties will hear it at the same time.
03:05Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier blamed
03:08if PhilHealth really has a reserve fund.
03:12Investment is the last in the order of priority.
03:17Yes.
03:18Yes.
03:19But Your Honor,
03:21I would like to highlight that every year
03:23PhilHealth actually generates more revenues
03:27than expenditures.
03:29I will show you the report of COA
03:33which shows that PhilHealth is bankrupt, actually.
03:37I don't know if you're aware of that.
03:39You ought to be aware.
03:40If you are, Your Honor.
03:42And COA has repeatedly highlighted that
03:45in its letters to PhilHealth.
03:49And then COA said that for many years,
03:53at least three years,
03:5421, 22, 23,
03:56the reserve fund of PhilHealth
04:00is much, much less
04:02than its actuarial fund,
04:06actuarial estimate.
04:08PhilHealth funds transferred!
04:11Illegal! Unjust!
04:13Before the oral arguments,
04:15various groups protested outside the Supreme Court.
04:20For GMA Integrated News,
04:22Salima Refrain,
04:23for 24 Hours.
Comments