(Eagle News) — The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. will appeal before the Supreme Court the Commission on Audit’s order for it to return P163.85 million in bonuses it gave its officials.
The order was made after the COA denied PhilHealth’s petition for review of the agency’s earlier decision that ruled the perks were illegal.
In denying the petition, COA said that while PhilHealth was not covered by the Salary Standardization Law, its authority under National Health Insurance Act, which grants PhilHealth’s board of directors fiscal autonomy, was not absolute.
“As such, the BOD of PhilHealth cannot authorize the grant of the subject allowances and benefits without the approval of the President of the Philippines, through the DBM (Department of Budget and Management),” COA said.