Doctor, school owner arrested for non-payment of P6.5-M SSS contributions

MANILA, Philippines - A doctor and a school owner were arrested by the Social Security System (SSS) and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) yesterday for allegedly not paying their employees’ premium contributions totaling P6.5 million.

The two agencies’ operation led to the arrest of Realiza Henson, a member of the board of directors of Silver Stream Publishing Corp. (SSPC), and Erlinda Binanitan, who owns Skill Power Institute (SPI), SSS president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Dooc said in a statement.

“We are happy that the CIDG joined by our team were able to arrest the two employers. The SSS has been doing everything to crack down on these erring employers. We have warned them several times that we will use the strength of the law to ensure that we get what’s due for our members,” Dooc said.

According to the SSS, a warrant of arrest was served to Henson at her clinic in a private hospital in Quezon City. 

In January, the Makati regional trial court convicted Victor Caluag, Conchita Caluag and Ma. Antonietta Henson, members of the SSPC board of directors, for non-remittance of SSS contributions.

The Caluags were arrested at their residence in Makati City after being issued bench warrants for jumping bail and failing to attend hearings.

Ma. Antonietta remains at large while the doctor has yet to be arraigned.

Victor and Conchita Caluag would serve a minimum of six years and one day to eight years in prison and were ordered to pay P1.61 million to the SSS for unpaid contributions and penalties as of Dec. 15, 2011.

The SSS said SSPC has an outstanding obligation of around P6 million to date, including unpaid contribution and penalties. 

“With the arrest of Henson, we can finally prosecute the case against her. However, we still seek the assistance of the public to give us information on the whereabouts of Ma. Antonietta Henson, who has been in hiding since the filing of the case against them,” Dooc said.

Binanitan was arrested while at the SPI office along North Avenue in Quezon City. 

SSS records showed that SPI did not pay the monthly contributions of her employees from November 2010 to June 2011, with obligations reaching about P500,000, including penalties. 

“The arrest of Henson and Binanitan is a clear message that no one is above the law and SSS will run after erring employers, whether big or small. We will ensure that the rights of members to social security is protected,” Dooc said.

Earlier, the SSS said it had intensified its campaign against delinquent employers who violate the Social Security Act of 1997 through the help of the Philippine National Police.