Saturday, September 06, 2008 GSIS chief to answer charges in proper forum
CHIEF presidential legal counsel Sergio Antonio Apostol said Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) president and general manager Winston Garcia should only explain himself in the appropriate legal body if actual cases are filed against him for alleged misuse of funds and corruption.
Apostol said Garcia is a good manager who continues to enjoy the trust and confidence of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
He added that they are leaving the case to the appropriate legal body to handle which is separate and independent from the executive branch.
“There is nothing to explain. He (Garcia) should only explain before the Office of the Ombudsman. He would file the counter-affidavit I heard,” he said.
Two separate complaints for graft, misconduct and malversation of public funds were filed by a retired government employee and three public school teachers against Garcia and the entire GSIS board.
The complainants asked the ombudsman to suspend Garcia; Consuelo Manansala, vice president and treasurer; Bernardino Abes, chairman of the board of trustees; and members Victoria Ablan, Jesse Andres, Mario Ramirez, Esperanza Ocampo, Reynaldo Palmiery, Alejandro Roces, Jesus Santos and Nita Javier for at least six months.
The GSIS officials have been accused of depositing about P10.39 million of state pension funds in the bank account of Manansala.
The complainants cited a Commission on Audit report showing that the insurance agency initially deposited over P2.7 billion in the account of Manansala on May 5, 2003 after the certificate of incorporation of GSIS Properties, Inc. (GPI) was issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Several subsequent deposits were made in Manansala’s account instead of depositing the funds in the account of GPI. (JMR/Sunnex)
