The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on Thursday defended the release of some P83 million worth of benefits to its officials and employees in 2014.

In a statement, PhilHealth Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Eli Dino Santos stressed that the "subsequent benefits," which included educational assistance and birthday gift benefits, were "aligned with those prescribed under the Salary Standardization Law."

"We maintain… that those allowances were given in good faith, aboveboard, not extravagant and, most of all, well deserved by the hardworking officers and employees of the state-insurer," Santos said.

He issued the remarks after the Supreme Court reaffirmed a COA ruling disallowing the release of P83.6 million in benefits to PhilHealth officials and employees in its head office and some regional offices in 2014.

Santos said the state insurer acknowledges the decision of the Supreme Court and assured the public that it has already stopped such allowances after being flagged by the Commission on Audit.

"We wish to inform the public that PhilHealth immediately discontinued the subject allowances after receipt of the Notice of Disallowance from COA," he said.

PhilHealth filed a Motion for Reconsideration at the Supreme Court on 20 December. Santos said the state insurer will "fully comply with the directive of the Court once issued with finality."

"We assure the public that PhilHealth is prudent in administering its funds, and ensure that meeting our financial obligations, especially the payment of benefit claims, is always our top priority," he added.