Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto answer questions during the during the economic briefing for the World Economic Forum (WEF) Country Roundtable in Manila at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacanang in Manila on March 19, 2024. Also at the briefing are Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick D. Go (2nd from L) and National Economic and Development Authority Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan (Far R ). PPA/Pool, Jonathan Cellona.

Article (news)

Agatha Gregorio

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/176845101133320240319-world-economic-forum-JC-8.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto answer questions during the during the economic briefing for the World Economic Forum (WEF) Country Roundtable in Manila at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacanang in Manila on March 19, 2024. PPA/Pool, Jonathan Cellona/file</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED)</strong> — Another set of graft, plunder, and technical malversation complaints were filed against Executive Secretary and former Finance Secretary Ralph Recto and former PhilHealth president and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma before the Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday over the P60 billion fund transfer voided by the Supreme Court.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/5/supreme-court-orders-government-to-restore-p60-b-philhealth-fund-1435">SC orders gov&#x27;t to restore P60-B PhilHealth fund, bars further transfers</a></div><p>The complainants were a group of lawyers, doctors, and health advocates that also filed an administrative complaint over alleged grave misconduct for the transfer of PhilHealth reserve funds worth P60 billion to the national treasury.</p><p>“This involves public funds, and they have the power over these funds. And these funds were utilized not for the purpose for which they were appropriated. And sinabi nga sa Supreme Court decision that here, there is an action by the secretary of finance that is void because it violates the existing laws or it is tantamount to amendment of existing laws,” one of the complainants, Rodel Taton, told reporters.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/22/recto-vows-to-fully-cooperate-with-ombudsman-on-p60-b-philhealth-fund-transfer-probe-1058">Graft, plunder raps filed vs Recto, Ledesma over P60-B PhilHealth fund transfer</a></div><p>According to the complaint, RA 7875 on the National Health Insurance Program and RA 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act were violated due to the transfer.</p><p>“The law is clear as it provides that certain portion of Reserve Funds of Philhealth not needed to meet its current expenditure obligations shall be invested in short-term interest-bearing investments,” the complaint reads, citing RA 7875 as amended by RA 9241.</p><p>Taton also cited supposed violations of the sin tax law because a portion gathered from the purchase of products such as alcohol and cigarettes is “reserved for universal health care.”</p><p>Back in December, the Supreme Court ordered the government to restore P60 billion to PhilHealth after transfer to the national treasury in 2024.</p><p>The SC&#x27;s decision served as a signal to bring the matter to the Office of the Ombudsman, especially as the ruling did not determine criminal liability, Taton said.</p><p>In a statement, Recto cited Supreme Court justices in reiterating his innocence.</p><p>“Let me also reiterate my 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. We remain confident that the facts and the law are clear, and that the appropriate institutions will evaluate any allegations fairly and objectively,” Recto said.</p><p>Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro also commented on the matter, but mainly referred to Recto’s statement.</p><p>“Actually nasagot na po ‘yan kamakailan ni ES Recto na siya lamang po ay sumusunod na naaayon sa batas ito nga po ‘yung 2024 GAA. Pero minabuti po nating kunin ang kanilang reaksyon ang Office of the Executive Secretary, at ito po ang kanilang tugon, and I quote, ‘We respect the right of any individual or group to seek redress through the legal process. At this time, we have yet to receive a copy of the complaint,” Castro said.</p><p>ABS-CBN News is reaching out to Ledesma for comment.</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>According to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, they must first evaluate the complaints and determine if the legal basis is solid.</p><p>“If we find it to be properly done and the legal basis to be solid, then we will proceed.&quot;</p><p>But we have to evaluate everything first. Kailangan pag-aralan muna,” Remulla said on Thursday.*</p><p>During the latter part of December, the Save the Philippines Coalition filed graft, plunder, technical malversation, and grave misconduct complaints against Recto and Ledesma as well.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ec_TUTnYATk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>In a statement, Recto said he respects "the right of any individual or group to seek legal remedies and to avail themselves of the processes provided under our laws."</p>

In a statement, Recto said he respects "the right of any individual or group to seek legal remedies and to avail themselves of the processes provided under our laws."

Recto, ex-PhilHealth chief face new plunder, graft raps over voided fund transfer

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Recto, ex-PhilHealth chief face new plunder, graft raps over voided fund transfer

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 15, 2026 12:26 PM PHT

|

Updated January 15, 2026 09:30 PM PHT

Read More:

Ralph Recto

PhilHealth

Ombudsman

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