Several high-ranking members of the House of Representatives have rallied behind Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, accusing health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon of misleading the public and politicizing state fiscal management.
The joint defense follows a plunder and malversation complaint filed by Leachon against Recto and other officials over the transfer of billions in unutilized reserve funds from state-run corporations back to the national treasury. The controversy centers on the reallocation of roughly ₱60 billion from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) and ₱107 billion from the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC), a move mandated by a special provision in the 2024 General Appropriations Act.
Iloilo 1st District Representative and former Health Secretary Janette Garin defended Recto, emphasizing that the Executive Secretary was merely executing a law passed by the legislature.
“Delikado ang kaunting kaalaman kapag ginagamit para magkunwaring eksperto sa budget process,” Garin stated. “Secretary Ralph Recto merely implemented what was clearly authorized under the General Appropriations Act. Kung talagang naniniwala si Dr. Leachon na ilegal ito, bakit hindi niya kasuhan ang buong Kongreso at Senado na nagpasa ng batas?”
Garin further insinuated that Leachon’s persistent attacks might be fueled by external interests, challenging him to name his backers, while also attributing his actions to a perennial desire to head the Department of Health.
“Bawat administrasyon, laging nagpapakitang-gilas si Dr. Leachon para mapansin bilang posibleng secretary of health,” Garin added. “Alam naman niyang hindi siya kinokonsidera ng kasalukuyang search committee kaya mukhang napaaga lang ang kanyang pagpupuwesto.”
Other lawmakers echoed the sentiment, questioning Leachon’s motives and grasp of government finance. Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong accused the former pandemic task force adviser of steering discussions away from genuine accountability to serve a personal agenda.
“Parang pilit na pilit niyang ilihis ang usapan mula sa mga totoong issue ng pananagutan,” Adiong remarked. “If accountability is truly his advocacy, then he should apply the same standard to everyone and not only when it fits a political narrative.”
Tingog Party-list Representative Jude Acidre criticized Leachon’s characterization of the funds, arguing that the advocate was distorting the mechanics of fiscal management to create false public outrage.
“Kulang sa kaalaman sa proseso pero sobra sa pag-iingay,” Acidre said. “He keeps repeating that the funds were ‘unused,’ when that is precisely why they are called reserve funds. They are not meant to be spent recklessly or automatically exhausted.”
La Union 1st District Representative Paolo Ortega V ultimately dismissed the legal offensive as a politically driven stunt tied to the recent electoral defeats of Leachon’s relatives.
“Naiintindihan naman natin na natalo noong nakaraang eleksyon ang kanyang anak at ilang kamag-anak. Pero huwag naman sanang gawing political weapon ang mga reklamong kulang sa basehan,” Ortega concluded. “Ang problema rito, pinagmumukhang public advocacy ang malinaw na pamumulitika.”