MANILA — Malacañang said it respected the Supreme Court ruling ordering the return of P60 billion in unused PhilHealth funds, even as the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) will review the decision and determine whether to seek reconsideration.

Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez said the administration acknowledged the Court’s ruling but emphasized that the Executive branch merely complied with the congressional directive under the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

“We respect the decision of the Supreme Court. The Office of the Solicitor General will review the ruling and decide on the appropriate course of action to take including the filing of a motion for reconsideration,” Gomez said.

Gomez added that “the Executive simply complied with the congressional mandate under the said law,” noting that “majority of the members of the high tribunal declared as unconstitutional a provision of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) 2024 passed by Congress.”

He said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had already taken steps to restore the PHP 60 billion to PhilHealth on September 20, 2025, citing the agency’s “improved performance and increased benefits for members.”

Gomez said the President acted proactively “in recognition of the agency’s stronger performance, increased absorptive capacity and expanded benefits in line with the government’s goal of delivering universal healthcare for all Filipinos.”

“The House of Representatives incorporated the restoration in the General Appropriations bill and the Senate likewise upheld the directive in its committee report,” he said.