SC tech consultant defends credentials before House panel

MANILA, Philippines — Supreme Court Information and Communications Technology consultant Helen Macasaet appeared at the House of Representatives hearing on the impeachment case of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Wednesday.

Macasaet's credentials were put into question as complainant Larry Gadon alleged that Sereno committed corruption when the consultant was hired and paid P250,000 a month.

Facing the House justice panel, Macasaet defended her qualifications saying that she once worked with the Government Service Insurance System and helped the government agency when its database crashed, one of the major IT crises in Philippine history.

Macasaet said that during her stint with the GSIS, she was paid P925,000 a month.

She said that she was hired for the SC's Enterprise Information Systems Plan, which aims to digitize all courts nationwide.

READ: ‘Chief Justice Sereno paid P12 million to IT consultant in 5 years’

She recounted that when she met with Sereno, the chief justice was studying "what can be the roadmap for the size of organization like the judiciary, how can it work."

"In my mind, she was trying to get some ideas from me," Macasaet said.

Macasaet said that her contract with the SC, which says she is entitled to P250,000 per month, is "not comparable to salaries" of the officials and employees of the court.

She clarified that she does not receive any allowance from the court, and even shells out personal money when she has to go to courts across the country.

SC justices balked at Macasaet's contract, pointing out that she received a salary higher than they were getting.

READ: ‘IT consultant’s fees higher than Supreme Court justices’ pay’

Procurement process

The House panel was also examining whether there was a violation of the procurement law when Macasaet was hired.

However, she clarified that she cannot divulge information on the procurement process as she has no knowledge on it.

"I had very limited participation," she added.

The consultant was hired for the duration of October 2013 to November 2017.

Rep. Reynaldo Umali (Oriental Mindoro) clarified that she is invited as a resource speaker, and she is not, in fact, the respondent in the case.

Umali said that the panel aims to close the impeachment hearing at the House level before the end of February.

The House of Representatives Committee on Justice continues to deliberate whether Gadon's complaint has probable cause to oust Sereno.