00:00The Office of the Solicitor General rejected the government's move to return the PhilHealth's Php 89.9 billion to the National Treasury.
00:10This is what Louisa Erispe reported.
00:15The Office of the Solicitor General gave the government the right to transfer the PhilHealth's Php 89.9 billion to the National Treasury of the Philippines.
00:25In the defense of Sgt. Menardo Guevara in the oral argument in the Supreme Court, he insisted that this is not a violation of the law or the Constitution.
00:34The government only did this to provide a solution to the funds allocated for government projects because the PhilHealth funds are not being used.
00:43It was the Executive and Legislative Department's way of creating and implementing a fiscal policy to boost economic growth
00:55Without bloating the government's indebtedness or burdening the people, it is a common sense approach that does not violate any law, much less the Constitution.
01:08Guevara also said that there are no bad plans in transferring the funds. It would be easier if the Philippines will just borrow to have a fund for general appropriations.
01:18However, the country's and every Filipino's debt will be more than 139,000 pesos each.
01:29Contrary to what has been portrayed by some critics, there was no dark or sinister plan behind the transfer.
01:38We must consider that as of the end of February 2024, the national government debt was already recorded at Php 15.8 trillion.
01:51Every Filipino, young and old, rich and poor, abled and disabled, is indebted in the amount of Php 139,000 each.
02:03OSG also explained that the PhilHealth funds were not reserved funds, but funds that were not used.
02:10Therefore, it is not wrong to return the funds to the Treasury so that the country can still use them for other projects.
02:16OSG first asked the Supreme Court to remove the name of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as a respondent to the petition.
02:24I would like to respectfully ask the Honorable Court to drop President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as party respondent.
02:33The President of the Republic cannot be sued during his tenure.
02:37D.O.F. Secretary Ralph Recto, D.S.W.D. Secretary Rex Gatchalian, and D.O.H. Secretary Ted Herbosa joined the oral arguments yesterday.
02:45Before the oral arguments began, petitioners Bayan Muna, Attorney Neri Colmenares, and others protested outside the Supreme Court.
02:55Here, they insisted that the PhilHealth funds should be returned to the Philippines so that the Philippines can still use it for healthcare.
03:03The next oral arguments in the Supreme Court and the petitions will be held on February 25.
03:08Luisa Erispe for Pambansang TV in Bagong, Philippines.
