GSIS chief to implement dismissal order on 3 execs for grave misconduct

Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) president and general manager Winston Garcia said yesterday he is "duty-bound" to implement the dismissal order on three of his agency’s executives after the Office of the Ombudsman found them guilty of grave misconduct.

"The GSIS will abide with this order of the Ombudsman in so far as it was rendered in keeping with due process of law. The GSIS will never tolerate any improprieties committed by anyone," Garcia said in a statement, even as he pointed out that the alleged misconduct occurred before he took over as head of GSIS.

Ordered dismissed by the Office of the Ombudsman were Alex Valencerina, GSIS vice president of technical services group; Amalio Mallari Sr., vice president of housing and real property development group; and Fernando Campana, vice president, London representative office international operations.

The case against the three officials stemmed from the irregular issuance of a GSIS surety bond that forced the agency to pay off the $9.3-million loan of Ecobel Land Inc.

Ecobel, a local real estate developer, was granted the loan to finance the construction of its tower condominium project on March 11, 1998.

The Ombudsman said Valencerina and Mallari "had strongly recommended" the issuance of the bond amid the insufficient collateral posted by Ecobel in its loan application.

Campana had issued a certification vouching for the bond’s authenticity even after learning that Ecobel had been delinquent in paying its premiums, the Ombudsman said.

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez said her predecessor, Simeon Marcelo, had issued a decision holding the three GSIS officials liable for grave misconduct with the penalty of dismissal from service along with other administrative liabilities.

Following Marcelo’s decision, the three GSIS executives filed separate motions for reconsideration but these were all denied, Gutierrez said.

The three officials elevated their case before the Court of Appeals, but only Valencerina was granted a 60-day temporary restraining order that expired last Jan. 21.

Gutierrez added there is no more legal impediment for the implementation of the dismissal order against the officials. — Mike Frialde