Manila Central Post Office, headquarter of the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost) Photo courtesy of Scandi https://commons.wikimedia.org
MANILA (Mabuhay) – The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of charges against Philippine Postal Corporation (PPC) postmaster general Josephine dela Cruz for the agency’s alleged failure to remit to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) the loan amortizations of an employee.
In a resolution recently signed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, the anti-graft body found probable cause to charge Dela Cruz with 15 counts of violation of Republic Act 8291 or the GSIS Act of 1997.
Also ordered charged with the same violation were PPC Eastern Mindanao area director Bernardito Gonzales and Arlene Bendanillo of PPC- Zamboanga City.
Based on the Ombudsman’s investigation, the PPC failed to remit the loan amortizations of one of its employees in Zamboanga City, Santos Pamatong Jr., to the GSIS for the period of October 2011 to December 2012.
In her defense, Dela Cruz claimed that due to insufficiency of funds, “the PPC prioritized the net take home pay of employees and operating costs, over the remittance to the GSIS of premiums and loan amortizations.”
In her resolution, however, Morales dismissed Dela Cruz’ claim for lack of proof.
“Dela Cruz has not presented any evidence that would support her allegation that the PPC lacked the funds to be able to remit to the GSIS complainant’s loan amortizations,” the resolution read.
Under Section 52 of the GSIS Act, the heads and personnel of a national government office involved in the collection of premium contributions, loan amortizations and other accounts due to the GSIS who shall fail to remit the same within 30 days from the time it is due and demandable, “shall, upon conviction by final judgment, suffer the penalties of imprisonment of not less than one year nor more than five years and a fine”.(MNS)