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Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Government workers picket GSIS office
MANILA -- Thousands of government workers trooped Monday to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) building in Pasay City to call for the immediate resignation of GSIS president and general manager Winston Garcia.
Members of the Confederation of Union and Responsible Advancement of Government Employees (Courage) and GSIS employees gathered at the GSIS compound to vent their ire at Garcia.
The protest ended when policemen assigned to secure the area dispersed them early in the evening. No one was reported injured in the dispersal.
Albert Velasco, an officer of GSIS employees' union, said they would not stop until Garcia is removed from office. He rejected Garcia's call for a negotiation saying they are already "tired and sick" of the official's insincere promises.
Velasco also condemned Garcia for ordering the dispersal, saying it was a desperate move to stop the mounting protest against him.
"He (Garcia) could not intimidate us using hundreds of policemen. We will continue our protest until he quits," he said.
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon met with the rallyists to hear their grievances.
He said he will author a resolution setting an investigation into the complaints against Garcia.
Atty. Estrella Elamparo, legal counsel of Garcia, said her client will not resign.
Elamparo said before national television that there is no reason for the GSIS chief to relinquish his post and he would stay on to continue implementing reforms in the agency.
She insisted that Garcia should be given a chance to defend himself from the accusations fabricated by few disgruntled GSIS officials and suppliers.
Garcia's lawyer likewise belittled the protest saying there are more government employees supporting the GSIS president than Velasco's group.
She said the GSIS employees union and other big government employees' organization back Garcia.
Garcia is facing an inquiry by the House of Representatives for alleged misuse of public funds and other irregularities.
Following the protest by government workers, Senators Ralph Recto and Biazon said it was up to Garcia to decide whether to stay in his post or resign.
They also said the problems at the GSIS should be addressed first before any resignation takes place.
Recto said the matter should be left to the President since she is the appointing authority. (JFF/JPM)
(October 5, 2004 issue)
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