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December 22, 2025 | 5:26pm
Ralph Recto on September 16, 2025.
STAR / Noel Pabalate
MANILA, Philippines — A group filed a complaint against Executive Secretary Ralph Recto and former Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) president and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma over the transfer of PhilHealth’s excess funds to the national treasury.
The Save the Philippines Coalition lodged complaints of malversation and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act before the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday, December 22.
The group also filed complaints under the Anti-Plunder Law and for grave misconduct.
Aside from the alleged violations, they also requested the preventive suspension of Recto and Ledesma.
"With all due respect, Complainants respectfully [submit,] it is very clear that the evidence of guilt is strong, the charges would warrant [respondents'] removal from office," the complaint read.
"The continuous stay in office of Respondent HON RALPH G. RECTO, Executive Secretary Respondent EMMANUEL R. LEDESMA, JR, if still in government service, will allow the suppression of evidence against them by causing the loss or destruction of the same, which will make apt, the issuance of an "Order" preventively suspending said Respondents from their respective offices," it added.
It can be recalled that on December 5, the Supreme Court ordered the return of P60 billion in PhilHealth excess funds from the national treasury back to the state health insurer.
PhilHealth had previously been instructed to remit a total of P89.9 billion in surplus funds to the national coffers.
The agency had already transferred P60 billion before the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order to block the remittance of the remaining P29.9 billion.
In response to the complaint, Recto said that he respects "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."
"With the able representation by the Solicitor General, I welcome the opportunity to clarify the issues, prove my innocence, and debunk the allegations put forth," Recto's statement read.
"But let me 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," he added.
