Ex-PhilPost chief charged for unremitted loan payment
Sandiganbayan. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
Former Postmaster General Josefina Mendoza-Dela Cruz of the Philippine Postal Corporation was charged with 15 counts of violation of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) law for failing to remit to the state corporation one employee’s loan amortization.
According the charge sheet filed before the Sandiganbayan, the Office of the Special Prosecutor accused Dela Cruz, area director Bernardito Gonzales, and accountant Arlene Bendanillo of allegedly conspiring and confederating with one another to commit the criminal offense of failing to remit to the GSIS at least P35,178.45 worth of loan amortizations collected or deducted from the salary of Santos Jose Pamatong Jr.
READ: PhilPost head faces raps over GSIS loan payments
Gonzales was charged as then Zamboanga City area director (He is now Eastern Mindanao area director)
The loan amortizations worth P2,345.23 each for the months October-December 2011, and January-December 2012 were not remitted within 30 days from the time these became due and demandable, the prosecutors said.
The failure of the postal officials to remit the loan amortization to the GSIS caused “damage and prejudice” to Pamatong as well as to public interest, the prosecutors added.
READ: Ex-PhilPost head cries injustice over Ombudsman raps, says timing ‘highly suspicious’
The postal officials were charged with violating Section 52(g) of Republic Act 8291 or the GSIS Act.
The section states that heads of offices in the national government, government-owned or controlled corporations and government financial institutions may suffer one to five years imprisonment, a P10,000-P20,000 fine, and absolute disqualification from serving in public office and from practicing a licensed profession, if found guilty of failing, refusing or delaying the payment, turnover, remittance or delivery of premium contributions, loan amortization, and other accounts due to the GSIS.
The bail recommended is P24,000 for each count for a total of P360,000.
READ: PhilPost defends ex-chief over graft raps
In her defense, Dela Cruz said the PhilPost prioritized the net take home pay of employees and operating costs over the remittance of GSIS loan premiums and amortizations.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales in her indictment said the postmaster general’s defense “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.” JE/rga
