Ex-PhilPost head cries injustice over Ombudsman raps, says timing ‘highly suspicious’

FORMER Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost) postmaster general Josefina “Josie” Dela Cruz has cried injustice over the charges that the Office of the Ombudsman filed against her over her alleged failure to remit the loan of an employee to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

READ: Ex-PhilPost head faces raps over GSIS loan payments

Dela Cruz told INQUIRER.net that she was quite surprised with the charges, especially because it was her who supposedly saved the government agency from bankruptcy and led it to a “good standing” status.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales last Monday signed a resolution ordering charges to be filed against Dela Cruz after the anti-graft body found probable cause to charge her with 15 counts of violation of the GSIS Act of 1997.

The Ombudsman said Dela Cruz and two other respondents failed to remit the loan amortizations of employee Santos Pamatong Jr. to the GSIS from October 2011 to December 2012.

She said it was her predecessors who failed to remit the GSIS premiums and loan amortizations, noting that the loan appeared unremitted as she prioritized the back-payables.

The former Bulacan governor, who assumed office as PhilPost head on July 18, 2011, also noted that they consulted with the GSIS regarding the remittance of loan.

READ: PhilPost defends ex-chief over graft raps

“Ang thinking ko noon, kung ano ‘yung matagal nang hindi bayad, uunahin ‘yun… Those before me did not really remit, and we have already been remitting,” Dela Cruz said in a phone interview.

“Upon advise ng GSIS, sa halip na bayad ako nang bayad, babalikan na lang ‘yung months… bayaran na ‘yung current at habulin na lang ‘yung previous,” she added.

Dela Cruz also noted that Pamatong, the complainant, had already requested for a refund of his amortization, which was granted and fully paid.

The ex-PhilPost chief said the filing of charges was done “in bad faith” and was “totally unfair,” only if the investigators would look into it.

“Sino pang tulad ko ang tatanggap ng bankrupt na kumpanya kung ako pang nagsalba ako pang mapapahamak,” Dela Cruz said.

“I really appeal to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales to look into this carefully, because this is a clear injustice,” she added.

Dela Cruz, who is running again for governor of Bulacan under the Nationalist People’s Coalition, said the timing of the filing of charges was “highly suspicious,” especially less than three months before the national elections in May.

“Bagama’t sinasabi nilang tuwid na daan, ito ang gobyerno na dapat may puso,” Dela Cruz said.