MANILA — A citizens’ coalition has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to probe former finance secretary and now Executive Secretary Ralph Recto and former Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) president and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma over the controversial remittance of billions of pesos in PhilHealth funds to the national treasury, invoking a recent Supreme Court ruling that declared the transfer illegal.
The Save the Philippines Coalition on Monday filed complaints for plunder, graft, technical malversation, and grave misconduct, questioning the legality of the directive ordering Philippine Health Insurance Corporation to remit what the government classified as excess funds.
At the center of the complaint is the P89.9 billion ordered transferred to the treasury, of which P60 billion had already been remitted last year before the Supreme Court of the Philippines issued a temporary restraining order halting the release of the remaining P29.9 billion.
The coalition said its legal action was anchored on a recent Supreme Court ruling that ordered the return of the P60 billion already transferred to PhilHealth through the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
In its decision, the high court declared void both the fund transfer and Special Provision 1(d), Chapter XLIII of the 2024 General Appropriations Act, as well as Finance Circular No. 003-2024, citing grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction.
Recto, in a statement, said he would cooperate with the Ombudsman’s preliminary investigation and defended his actions while in office.
“With the able representation by the Solicitor General, I welcome the opportunity to clarify the issues, prove my innocence, and debunk the allegations put forth,” he said.
He further maintained that he acted within the bounds of the law and in good faith, stressing that his position had already been considered by members of the high court.
He reiterated his innocence “as opined by Supreme Court Justices, that no criminal liability may attach to me, as former Secretary of Finance, for acting in good faith and in accordance with a direct mandate from Congress in ordering the remittance of PhilHealth’s unused funds.”
“I will not get distracted by political noise. The work of improving government performance and services is my priority,” he added.
As of posting time, Ledesma has yet to issue a statement./PN
