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Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, March 9, 2021. Albert Calvelo, Senate PRIB/File

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Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176637197303920210309-recto-ralph-senate-PRIB-0.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, March 9, 2021. Albert Calvelo, Senate PRIB/File</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Executive Secretary Ralph Recto on Monday said he would “fully cooperate with the Office of the Ombudsman” after complaints of technical malversation, plunder and grave misconduct were filed against him over the transfer of P60 billion from state insurer PhilHealth to the national treasury.</p><p>Recto was the finance secretary when the fund transfer happened in 2024.</p><p>“I respect every citizen’s right to seek redress before the courts and will fully cooperate with the Office of the Ombudsman during the conduct of preliminary investigation,” Recto told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>“I welcome the opportunity to clarify the issues raised by the Save the Philippines Coalition, with representation by the Office of the Solicitor General,” he said.</p><p>While investigations are ongoing, Recto assured the public that he would continue to focus on his work in Malacañang.</p><p>“I will not get distracted by political noise,” he said.</p><p>“The work of improving government performance and services is my priority. I will let my lawyers address those issues,” he said.</p><p>Earlier this month, the Supreme Court <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/5/supreme-court-orders-government-to-restore-p60-b-philhealth-fund-1435">ordered the executive branch to restore the P60 billion fund to PhilHealth.</a></p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/4/3/philhealth-admits-it-lost-contributors-trust-after-p89-9-b-fund-transfer-1845">PhilHealth admits it lost contributors&#x27; trust after P89.9-B fund transfer</a></div><p>In a statement earlier this month, Recto — who was already working as the Executive Secretary — said that the administration believed that the directive to move PhilHealth’s unused funds to the national treasury “was a common-sense approach to optimize government coffers without resorting to additional borrowing or new taxes.”</p><p>“Before any remittance occurred, the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC), the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG), and the Commission on Audit (COA) gave DOF the green light to do so. The PhilHealth board also approved the transfer,” Recto said.</p><p>“We also stress that PhilHealth’s ability to deliver services was never impaired by the fund transfer and no member contributions were taken,” he said.</p><p>“In fact, the correction led to the agency’s largest expansion of benefit packages in Universal Health Care history, alongside the rollout of Zero Balance Billing to protect Filipino families from rising medical costs,” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/8/7/recto-philhealth-excess-fund-not-from-members-contribution-2112">Recto: PhilHealth excess fund not from members’ contribution</a></div><p>Malacañang assured the public that it would respect and heed the High Court’s decision.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/5/solgen-will-review-sc-ruling-to-restore-p60-b-philhealth-fund-malaca-ang-2205">SolGen will review SC ruling to restore P60-B PhilHealth fund: Malacañang</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/9/2/each-filipino-owes-p142-000-because-of-ph-debt-gatchalian-2209">Each Filipino owes P142,000 because of PH debt: Gatchalian</a></div><div><iframe width="726" height="408" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ec_TUTnYATk" title="SC orders return of P60-B PhilHealth fund that was transferred to national treasury | ANC" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said he would “fully cooperate with the Office of the Ombudsman” after complaints of technical malversation, plunder and grave misconduct were filed against him over the transfer of P60 billion from state insurer PhilHealth to the national treasury.</p>

Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said he would “fully cooperate with the Office of the Ombudsman” after complaints of technical malversation, plunder and grave misconduct were filed against him over the transfer of P60 billion from state insurer PhilHealth to the national treasury.

Recto vows to ‘fully cooperate with Ombudsman’ on P60-billion PhilHealth fund transfer probe

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Recto vows to ‘fully cooperate with Ombudsman’ on P60-billion PhilHealth fund transfer probe

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 22, 2025 10:58 AM PHT

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Ralph Recto

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