TRO on PhilHealth transfer urged anew

A LAWMAKER on Thursday urged the Supreme Court (SC) to immediately issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) to halt the next tranche of excess funds transfer by the state health insurer to the national treasury.

The high court earlier indicated it might act on the petitions challenging the P89.9-billion transfer of funds from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to the National Government’s (NG) coffers before the scheduled oral arguments in January next year, according to spokesperson Camille Sue Mae L. Ting.

“We laud the high court for this willingness, but this gesture will be more impactful if the tribunal issues a TRO now to prevent further transfers and the use of the money by executive agencies,” Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez said in a statement.

“Next week will already be November. So, the window for the Supreme Court to prevent the handover of the balance is closing,” he added.

PhilHealth previously remitted P20 billion to the national treasury on May 10, with another P10 billion on Aug. 21 and P30 billion on Oct. 16.

The state health insurer will proceed with its scheduled transfer of the remaining P29.9 billion in excess funds to the Treasury, Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto earlier told BusinessWorld. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio