Ralph Recto: P60-B fund transfer didn't affect PhilHealth operations

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on Friday maintained that he is not liable over the P60 billion PhilHealth fund transfer to the National Treasury during his tenure as Finance chief, saying such transfer did not affect the state insurer’s operations.

Recto issued the statement in response to the motion for reconsideration filed by lawyer Rodel Taton and other Iloilo-based doctors and lawyers appealing the Ombudsman’s decision clearing Recto and ex-PhilHealth chief Manny Ledesma of plunder, technical malversation and graft complaints over the said PhilHealth fund transfer.

The Ombudsman earlier ruled that these officials cannot be held liable since the transfer was done in good faith and as provided under the 2024 national budget law.

“Government actions were consistent with existing fiscal management policies and previous explanations provided by concerned agencies. Consistent naman ang naging naging pahayag at naging findings hinggil sa usaping ito,” Recto said in a statement.

(We have been consistent in our position on this.)

Recto argued that the transferred funds originated from excess government contributions and reserve funds that were not being utilized by PhilHealth at the time.

“Ang mahalaga ay hindi naapektuhan ang operasyon ng PhilHealth at ang serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan. Walang katotohanan na naapektuhan ang operasyon ng PhilHealth dahil sa pondong iyon. Hindi nabawasan ang benepisyo o serbisyo ng PhilHealth sa ating mga miyembro,” Recto added.

(What is important is that the transfer did not affect the PhilHealth services to our people. There is no truth to claims that PhilHealth operations were affected by the said transfer. PhilHealth benefits were not reduced because of that.)

Further, Recto said that it has always been the government’s policy to maximize the use of available public funds to support priority programs and reduce the need for additional borrowing.

Recto also said he did not have a hand in increased allocations for the sixth district of Batangas represented by his son, Ryan, in the House of Representatives.

“Wala po akong alam diyan. Secretary of Finance ako noon at hindi kongresista. Ang paglalaan ng budget ay ginagawa ng Kongreso at ipinatutupad ng DBM,” he said.

(I don’t know anything about that. I was a Finance chief then. Allocating budget is the job of Congress and implemented by the Department of Budget and Management.)

“Ang trabaho ng Department of Finance ay tiyakin ang kita at fiscal position ng pamahalaan,” he added.

(The job of the Finance department is to ensure stability of our fiscal position.) — RSJ, GMA News