If no less than a Justice of our Supreme Court has created the impression that he has been scammed by the transfer of PhilHealth funds, then there is reality to the general feeling that everyone in this country has been scammed.

Not a few have expressed the hope that the Senate would have in its ranks the likes of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Amy Lazaro-Javier who showed her worth during the oral arguments on the petition questioning the legality of the transfer of PhilHealth’s unutilized funds to the national treasury. She could be the panacea to the abusive Bicameral Committee of Congress that has been characterized by political scientists as the scourge of Philippine society from 1986 to the present.

The Supreme Court on Thursday, 3 April, concluded its oral arguments on the consolidated petitions challenging the legality of the transfer of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s (PhilHealth) reserve funds to the national treasury. The oral arguments were held for five different days starting 21 February before concluding on 3 April in Baguio City.

“This afternoon the oral arguments were concluded after all the justices had given their interpolations,” said Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo in concluding the arguments.

“Considering that the oral arguments have been concluded, we will require the parties to submit their respective memoranda, and including the amici, within 30 days from today, non-extendible,” he added.

The Supreme Court cannot be wrong in questioning Congress’ right to decide on the PhilHealth budget, and neither can it be wrong for questioning the transfer of PhilHealth funds.

For the first time in the political history of the Republic of the Philippines, the poor and the sick will hit back by not voting for those who conspired to steal their money — the P60-billion PhilHealth fund.

The candidates for senator and representative will bear the full brunt of that anger of over 112 million Filipinos who feel they have been scammed by the transfer of PhilHealth funds to the national treasury.

It is difficult to pinpoint an exact number of Filipinos directly affected by the PhilHealth fund scam but it is estimated it is nearly the entire population since PhilHealth’s National Health Insurance Program covers all Filipinos.

It is usually in times of elections, confusion, and uncertainty that priorities are changed and legislated funds are quickly utilized, supposedly in the name of national security and national interest.

It is at this point also when after the appropriated money has been spent, and the excess and transferred money of government-owned and controlled corporations have been utilized, that the hard-earned foreign investments gained by President Bongbong Marcos from his foreign travels will be in danger of being diverted to projects other than those for which they were allotted.

Data from the Department of Trade and Industry show that the total of $72.2 billion in investments at different stages which comprise 148 projects was recorded as of 11 February 2024. Of these, 46 projects involving $14.2 billion or 20 percent of total pledges have been “actualized.” All of these may be jeopardized if the present state of affairs continues without the President being aware.

Email: artbesana@gmail.com