The Supreme Court has ruled that ₱60 billion transferred from PhilHealth must be returned, ensuring the funds remain exclusively for healthcare services and protected from diversion. Cardinal David criticized Executive Secretary Ralph Recto for defending the 2024 fund transfers, calling it 'common nonsense' since the money was allocated to unprogrammed appropriations, mainly DPWH flood control projects, unrelated to PhilHealth's mandate. The Office of the Solicitor General is reviewing the ruling to determine the government's next steps, while PhilHealth welcomed the decision as a step toward ensuring funds are used for their intended purpose. He suggested the Supreme Court should require repayment directly from frozen, garnished, or seized assets of those responsible, alongside criminal charges. Budget watchdog Social Watch Philippines (SWP) echoed David, warning that using taxpayer money to 'backfill' the stolen ₱60 billion would not constitute proper restitution. SWP also urged lawmakers to avoid special provisions in the 2026 budget similar to those that enabled the 2024 fund diversion. Former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio and other petitioners praised the ruling, which voided Special Provision 1(d) of the 2024 General Appropriations Act and DOF Circular 003-2024. Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David urged President Marcos Jr. and Congress not to cover the ₱60 billion Supreme Court-ordered return to PhilHealth using the 2026 national budget. Instead, the funds should be recovered from public officials and private contractors who profited from the misused funds. David called it a moral 'double jeopardy' if taxpayers were made to foot the bill for funds already stolen.
