Ex-PNR chief fined P245,000 for failing to remit P52,000 in GSIS contributions

Former Philippine National Railways general manager Jose Ma. Sarasola II has pleaded guilty to criminal failure to remit an employee’s premium contributions to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for 49 straight months.

Sarasola was accused of failing to remit P52,002.27 in contributions, for which the Sandiganbayan Second Division meted out a total fine of P245,000 for 49 counts of violation of Section 52(c) of the GSIS Act of 1997.

In a recently-released four-page resolution dated July 27, the court said Sarasola pleaded guilty upon rearraignment that day and withdrew an earlier plea of not guilty.

GSIS contributions were from now-deceased employee Benjamin Guinto covering the months of May 2000 to May 2004. /atm