Retired GSIS employees also asking for justice

WE WISH to bring to media attention the serious concern of several retired Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) employees who are members of the GSIS Retirees’ Association Inc. They filed a claim to recover monetary benefits taken back from them. These benefits were paid to them before they retired from the GSIS, in accordance with Republic Act 8291 as well as with the GSIS policies and operating guidelines existing at the time they were given. Years later, the GSIS forcibly and arbitrarily took back the benefits by deducting them from the claimants’ retirement benefits and other money claims from the GSIS, without their knowledge and consent.

The Commission on Audit did not disallow the payment of those benefits precisely because these were legally and validly paid to the claimants. The GSIS did not file any case whatsoever to recover those payments. The GSIS simply took the law into its hands.

In taking back those benefits from the claimants, the GSIS made use of a new policy and operating guideline which the GSIS adopted long after the payment of those benefits. It implemented the new policy retroactively, in violation of the general rule on the application of ex-post facto laws, policies or regulations.

The case has been pending since 2005. It was submitted for resolution after the presentation of evidence on Sept. 23, 2007, but the previous GSIS management refused to resolve the case, and until today the new leadership has not ruled on it, thus virtually continuing an injustice while depriving the aggrieved of their constitutional right to appeal the case to a higher court.

The refusal of the previous GSIS leadership to decide the case was blatant abuse of authority. It was a product of—to borrow President Aquino’s famous words—the  “wangwang mindset.” It ran roughshod over the rights of the poor and the helpless. While we do not blame this on the new GSIS board and management, we are sad that they allow themselves to be misled by the remnants of the past Arroyo regime.

ALFREDO D. PINEDA,

president,

GSIS Retirees’ Association Inc.,

10 Road 16, Toro Hills,

Project 8, Quezon City