Return P60B to PhilHealth – SC justice

The P60 billion transmitted by the state health insurer to the national treasury should be returned by the government, according to Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Antonio Kho Jr.

- DAPHNE GALVEZ

At yesterday's oral arguments on the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.'s controversial P89.9-billion fund transfer for unprogrammed appropriations, Kho asked how PhilHealth computed its request for government subsidy.

Health Assistant Secretary Albert Francis Domingo said its request is not based on the sin tax allocation, but on the number of members and premium rate.

Kho expressed surprise, saying PhilHealth is not "observing what the law requires" as it is not considering taxes being collected for the subsidy for indirect contributors.

Domingo said the government recognizes this observation, noting that the case "has been the signal it has been using to increase benefits."