NEWSFLASH

MUNTINGLUPA MAYOR INDICTED FOR NOT REMITTING GSIS PREMIUMS

Manila, Jan. 6, 2000- The Office of the Ombudsman yesterday indicted the mayor of Muntinglupa City for the alleged failure to remit multi-million GSIS premiums of their city employees.

Ombudsman Aniano Desierto ordered Mayor Jaime Fresnedi Jr. and City Treasurer Nelia Barlis to pay an amount equivalent to their six months salary after they were found guilty of failing to remit GSIS premiums of their employees amounting to P82.7-million.

The Preliminary Investigation, Adjudication and Monitoring Office (PAMO) found the two city officials guilty of neglect of duty, dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

“Their acts did not only cause damage and prejudice to the government but to the Muntinlupa employees as well,” Desierto said.

Desierto added that the PAMO also discovered that the officials of Muntinlupa had been insistent in not turning over the employees’ premium arrearages.

“Fresnedi was fully aware of the obligations of the city government to the GSIS. He should have included in the budget said arrearages upon his assumption of office and even when he was still the Vice-Mayor and head of the Sangguniang Panlungsod. The shortfall of collections will not justify respondent mayor from not including said arrearages in the budget,” the decision read.