MANILA — The Sandiganbayan has convicted a former Samar town mayor and two other local officials for violation of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) law over the non-remittance of GSIS premiums from 2008 to 2012, totaling to more than PHP6 million worth of contributions.
Convicted were former San Sebastian, Samar Mayor Arnold Abalos, Municipal Treasurer Virginia Uy and Municipal Accountant Pepita Mabini of 40 counts of violation of Section 52(c) of Republic Act No. 8291, or the “Government Service Insurance System Act of 1997”.
The anti-graft court ordered the three accused to solidary pay a PHP5,000 fine for each count, or a total PHP200,000.
During their re-arraignment, the three accused, who were assisted by counsel, informed the anti-graft court of their change of plea from “not guilty” to “guilty.”
“The accused are thereby deemed to have admitted all the material allegations in the 40 informations indicting them for the non-remittance of PHP6.9 million in GSIS contributions covering various periods from 2008 to 2012 (April 2008- December 2009, May 2010-September 2010, February 2011-December 2011, January 2012- April 2012),” the Sandiganbayan said in its ruling.
Republic Act No. 8291 provides that “local chief executives and other responsible officers are mandated to remit GSIS contributions within 30 days from the time that the same shall have been due and demandable. The employees’ and employer’s GSIS contributions are due within the first 10 days of the calendar month following the month to which the contributions apply.” (PNA)
