Sorsogon town mayor admits non-remittance of GSIS contributions

MANILA, Philippines — Bulusan, Sorsogon Mayor Michael Guysayko has pleaded guilty to criminal cases over his alleged failure to remit the Government Service Insurance System contributions of the municipal employees from 2010 to 2011 totaling P2.3 million.

 

In a decision promulgated by the Sandiganbayan First Division, the anti-graft court noted that Guysayko, during his arraignment on Jan. 12, 2018, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of violation of Section 52 (c) of Republic Act 8291 or the GSIS Act of 1997.

 

Guysayko's co-accused, municipal treasurer Jasmin Garcia, municipal accountant Ramon Belleza and municipal budget officer Marieta Negrite also pleaded guilty to the cases.

 

The First Division said all the respondents were duly assisted by their respective lawyers when they entered their guilty plea.

 

The court imposed no imprisonment for any of the respondents but instead sentenced them to each pay a fine of P50,000.

 

Section 52 (c) of the GSIS Act mandates the heads of government offices and agencies, including government-owned or controlled corporations and financial institutions, to remit all premium contributions, loan amortization and other accounts due to the GSIS, within 30 days from the time the amount is due and demandable. GSIS premiums are payable every 10th day of the month.

 

Based on the information of the cases filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in June last year, Guysayko, together with his co-accused, failed to remit to GSIS the premium contributions of the municipal employees from July 2010 to July 2011 totaling to P2,339,199.14.

 

For 2010, the respondents supposedly failed to remit on time the following amounts of contributions: P212,585.01 for July; P209,425.05 for August; P208,284.09 for September; and P236,186.68 each for October, November and December.

 

For 2011, the respondents supposedly failed to remit contributions amounting P241,221.68 for April and P253,041.09 each for May, June and July.