Ex-Iloilo town mayor fined over late GSIS, PagIBIG remittance

MANILA, Philippines — A former mayor and treasurer of a town in Iloilo have been found guilty of violating the Government Service Insurance Act and PagIBIG Fund Law. 

Rosario Fernandez of San Enrique and former municipal treasurer Imelda Celebrar were ordered to pay a fine of P1,285,600, according to a ruling of the Sandiganbayan’s Second Division on March 1, which was released yesterday.

The decision was penned by Associate Justice Oscar Herrera Jr.

Fernandez and Celebrar were ordered to pay P80,000 for violating Republic Act 8291 or the GSIS Law and P562,800 for violating RA 9679 or the PagIBIG Fund Law.

The former officials were indicted for 16 counts of violation of RA 8291 and 11 counts of violation of RA 9679 for the delayed remittance of contributions and loan payments  of municipal employees in 2011 and 2012. 

Fernandez and Celebrar pleaded not guilty to the charges, but later entered a guilty plea to a lesser offense under a plea bargaining agreement.