00:00The Supreme Court unanimously orders the return of 60 billion pesos to the Philippine Health
00:05Insurance Corporation. This after the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
00:11ordered the fund transfer from PhilHealth to the National Treasury in 2024. The SE's ruling on
00:16Friday, December 5 states that the fund transfer was unconstitutional. The High Court also
00:21permanently prohibits the transfer of the remaining 29.9 billion pesos fund balance.
00:27Several groups and public health advocates had filed petitions with the SE seeking to block the
00:32order of the Finance Department to transfer 89.9 billion pesos in excess PhilHealth funds to the
00:38National Treasury. Then Finance Secretary Ralph Rectos sought to justify the transfer, saying the
00:44order was within the bounds of the law, but petitioners argued it violates the Universal Health Care Act.
00:50The law states that PhilHealth's reserve funds or income cannot be used as a general fund of the
00:54national government.
