MANILA, Philippines – Tutugon ang Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) sa proseso ng Korte Suprema kaugnay sa paglilipat ng pondo ng ahensya sa National Treasury, sinabi ni PhilHealth President at Chief Executive Officer Dr. Edwin Mercado.
”Sa kasalukuyan po mayroon ng proseso na nangyayari sa Supreme Court, we respect the process that the Supreme Court is undergoing and we will abide by the ruling that the Supreme Court will have,” sinabi ni Mercado kasabay ng press briefing.
Sinimulan na ng SC ang oral arguments sa paglilipat ng pondo ng PhilHealth sa National Treasury, na gagamitin para sa iba pang proyekto ng pamahalaan.
Ipinaliwanag ng petitioners kung bakit unconstitutional ang paglilipat ng unused PhilHealth funds.
“The questioned provision and DOF (Department of Finance) circular are inconsistent, incompatible, and irreconcilable with the Universal Health Care Act and the Sin Tax Law. UHC’s objective is clear, to provide social health insurance and risk protection to all Filipinos,” ayon kay Atty. Paula Mae Tanquieng, abogado ng mga petitioner.
”These funds were sourced from sin taxes and cannot be used for other purposes, irrespective of how noble the purpose is,” sinabi pa ni Tanquieng.
Noong 2024, nagpasa ang PhilHealth ng P60 bilyon sa National Treasury habang ipinahinto naman ng korte ang paglilipat ng nalalabing P29.9 bilyon matapos na ihain ang petisyon. RNT/JGC
