3 Samar town execs face raps over unremitted GSIS premiums

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has found probable cause to indict three officials of San Sebastian town in Samar for failure to file and remit on time the mandatory monthly premiums of two employees to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) from 2008 to 2012.

In a 14-page resolution signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, the anti-graft agency said it found sufficient evidence to indict Mayor Arnold Abalos, treasurer Virginia Uy, and accountant Pepita Mabini for 40 counts of alleged violation of the Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997.

The Office of the Ombudsman said San Sebastian town has been saddled by delayed and unremitted GSIS premiums for 40 months for which Abalos and the other officials should be held liable.

Based on a GSIS statement of account issued on May 31, 2012, the municipal government did not remit the GSIS contributions from April 2008 to December 2009, May to September 2010, February to July 2011, September to December 2011, and January to April 2012 corresponding to arrears amounting to P6,786,787.84.  

Graft probers said the GSIS collection notice dated Aug. 17, 2012 indicated that San Sebastian town had outstanding payables amounting to P7,633,236.08.

The Office of the Ombudsman said the respondents committed repeated failures to timely remit the GSIS remittances when they were due and demandable.

According to the law, graft probers said penal sanctions are imposed on employers who fail to include the payment of contributions in their annual appropriations or fail to remit or delay the exact amount of monthly contributions.

The Office of the Ombudsman, however, junked the charge of malversation of public funds against the respondents due to insufficient evidence.

Complaints filed against revenue collection clerk and liaison officer Jesielz Babon were also dismissed for lack of probable cause.