THE Supreme Court has granted the plea of the Federation of Free Workers and Nagkaisa Labor Union to intervene in the petition filed by labor lawyer Sonny Matula questioning the transfer of P89.9 billion in unused funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to the National Treasury.
In a resolution dated Oct. 8, 2024, the Court en banc said it “admitted the petition-in- intervention dated Sept. 18, 2024 filed by counsel for the petitioners-in-intervention.”
Matula’s petition against the transfer of unused funds of PhilHealth to the National Treasury raises concerns over the legality and constitutionality of the transfer, emphasizing its potential to severely undermine the financial integrity of PhilHealth.
The petition argues the transfer threatens the ability of the state health insurer to provide much-needed healthcare services to millions of Filipino workers and their families.
The FFW and Nagkaisa labor coalition leaders sought to intervene in the case to “ensure that workers’ concerns are adequately represented in the legal proceedings.”
Last week, a group led by retired SC Senior Associate Justice Carpio filed the third petition challenging the constitutionality of the transfer. It was filed on the day that the third tranche of the PhilHealth unused funds amounting to P30 billion as set to be transferred. The state health insurance agency has remitted to the National Treasury twice — P20 billion in May and P10 billion in August. The remaining P29.9 billion is slated to be remitted next month.
Earlier, the SC set for Jan. 14, 2025 oral arguments in the petitions filed by the group of opposition Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III and Bayan Muna.
Finance Secretary Ralph Recto has defended the transfer saying it is only doing what Congress has empowered it to do.
Recto also assured the public that taking back PhilHealth’s excess funds would not affect its ability to provide services.
