Caloocan Mayor contests Ombudsman, DILG suspension order against him

MANILA, Philippines—Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri asked the Court of Appeals (CA) to stop the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) from implementing the six-month preventive suspension order imposed on him.

In his petition, Echiverri said acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro committed grave abuse of discretion when he ordered his suspension from office amid allegations of non-remittance of more than P38-million Caloocan City hall employees’ contribution to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

Echiverri questioned the date of the order of suspension, July 17, 2011 which falls on a Sunday. He pointed out that the Ombudsman holds office from Monday to Friday.

He also protested that he should not take the blame for the faults committed by his predecessors.

Also placed under preventive suspension, aside from Echiverri,  were city treasurer Evelina M. Garma, city budget officer Jesusa Garcia, and city accountant Edna Centeno.

The preventive suspension stemmed from the complaint filed by Caloocan Vice-Mayor Edgar R. Erice who alleged that from July 1997 to December 2002, and from January 2007 until Dec. 31, 2010,  premium contributions comprising the personal shares of Caloocan city’s government employees, were not remitted to the GSIS. These allegedly remained unpaid as of Dec. 31, 2010.

It was also alleged that the employees’ compensation shares from July 1997 to December 2004, and from January 2007 to December 2010, were not remitted to the GSIS. These allegations were confirmed by Robert G. Vergara, President and general manager of the GSIS.

GSIS records show that the total obligation of Caloocan City as of Dec. 31, 2010 amounted to PHP 343,814,739.85 representing principal and interest for the unpaid compulsory premiums.

Despite being informed of the unpaid GSIS obligations, Echiverri, together with Garma and Garcia, allegedly refused to take action on the matter.  Erice made a formal demand to Echiverri, Garma and Centeno for the remittance of the personal shares of the employees amounting to PhP 38,042,916.12, the same amount which he claimed had already been deducted from the salaries of the employees of the city.

Casimiro said the city government officials were suspended because their continued presence could prove prejudicial to the investigation being conducted by their office.

Meanwhile, the Court of Appeals raffled off the case to Associate Justice Agnes Reyes-Carpio of the appeals court’s 14th Division.