Caloocan Mayor Echiverri, 3 others suspended for 6 months

Acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro has placed Caloocan Mayor Enrico Echiverri and three other officials under a six-month preventive suspension for allegedly failing to remit over P37 million in city employees’ contributions to the Government Service and Insurance System, the Office of the Ombudsman said Monday. Along with Echiverri, also ordered suspended were City Treasurer Evelina Garma, City Budget Officer Jesusa Garcia and City accountant Edna Centeno in relation to the same complaint. In an interview with GMA News’ “24 Oras" newscast, Echiverri said his administration merely inherited Caloocan City’s obligations to GSIS. “But ‘yung mga contributions collected during my term were all remitted to GSIS," he said. Echiverri also expressed confidence that he can get a temporary restraining order on the suspension order. “Of course we will question the order. We will go to the higher courts," he added.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV "The continued discharge of their functions of the respondents may likely influence potential witnesses or tamper with records which may be vital in the prosecution of the case against them," Casimiro said in a statement. The suspension stems from a complaint filed by Caloocan Vice Mayor Edgar Erice who alleged that premium contributions comprising the personal shares of employees and Caloocan government shares were not remitted to the GSIS and remained unpaid as of Dec. 31, 2010. The coverage of the contributions that the mayor’s office allegedly failed to remit is from July 1997 to December 2002, and from January 2007 to Dec. 31, 2010, according to Casimiro’s office. The Office of the Acting Ombudsman also said the employees’ compensation shares from July 1997 to December 2004 and from January 2007 to December 2010 were not remitted to the GSIS. GSIS president and general manager Robert Vergara confirmed these claims, Casimiro’s office said. "GSIS records show that the total obligation of Caloocan City as of December 31, 2010, amounted to P343,814,739.85 representing principal and interest for the unpaid compulsory premiums," the office noted. Casimiro’s office also cited allegations that Echiverri, along with Garma and Garcia, refused to act on the matter despite having been informed of the unpaid GSIS obligations. Erice has thus made a formal demand to Echiverri, Garma, and City Accountant Edna Centeno to remit the personal shares of employees amounting to P38,042,916.12 – the same already deducted from the salaries of the employees of Caloocan City, added the Office of the Acting Ombudsman. — Paterno Esmaquel III/RSJ, GMA News