Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 6) — Social Security System (SSS) Commissioner Jose Gabriel ‘Pompee’ La Viña has a suggestion for his agency’s president: consider inhibiting himself in the stock trading controversy involving four SSS officials.
La Viña told CNN Philippines’ The Source he heard a television statement from SSS President Emmanuel Dooc, where “he sounded almost to me like he was lawyering for the other four.”
“With all respect, he’s a friend of mine, we have similar idols, we like the same books and everything — but trabaho lang (this is just work),” said La Viña.
“I would not tell him what to do, but perhaps to think — if he cannot look at this case objectively, because maybe there’s an emotional closeness because these are management people that work with him, maybe he should think about inhibiting also.”
The nine-member SSS Commission, the financial institution’s policy-making body, is conducting an investigation on the four officials. La Viña said he inhibited himself from the case as complainant.
Executive Vice President for Investments Rizaldy Capulong, Equities Investment Division Chief Reginald Candelaria, and Equities Product Development Head Ernesto Francisco Jr. are alleged to have profited illegally by trading stocks for their personal accounts. Chief Actuary George Ongkeko Jr. is accused of failing to keep complete records of the three officials’ trades.
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Candelaria and Ongkeko have since resigned, but La Viña said Ongkeko would be allowed to work until December to complete research.
“I don’t agree with that. I think competence in one area does not excuse gross negligence in another,” said La Viña.
The commissioner added that the other two accused officers, Capulong and Francisco, have since been moved to the Office of the President. He slammed the move as “unwise” and “a seal of good housekeeping.”
“We cannot put people who have been alleged to be using information in the Office of the President. That sends the wrong signal,” said La Viña.
“I think it’s unwise to put people that you’re investigating [there]. The purpose is, you’re not supposed to influence your subordinates,” he added.
La Viña extended the suggestion to inhibit to an unnamed number of commissioners, who also sit on the panel.
He added that some commissioners knew other parties involved beyond the four officials.
“If [in] their own judgment they think they cannot be objective because they have a personal relationship or business relationship with some of the parties, they should consider,” he said.
Tip of the iceberg?
La Viña hinted that corruption allegations were just part of the picture. Speaking on Facebook Live, he said more cases will probably come up, but not from the SSS investments division.
The commissioner added that he welcomed an investigation by the House of Representatives on the issue.
“I’m sure [the representatives’ constituents are telling them, we don’t want a contribution increase while there are allegations of corruption there,” said La Viña.
“Lubos akong tumututol sa pagtaas ng contribution rate hanggang hindi natin malinis ang SSS,” he added.
(Translation: I strongly oppose raising the contribution rate until we clean up SSS.)
SSS Chairman Amado Valdez is pushing for an increase of between P15 to P300 monthly in contributions, following a P1,000 increase in pension for 218,000 retired members last May.
Related: SSS wants to increase members’ contributions
The commissioner also said he sees a bigger picture than the public does at the moment.
“This is only the first case I filed. I have knowledge beyond this administrative case of other things that have been reported to me, other things that have been alleged,” La Viña said.
“But don’t worry… as we are able to get more and more evidence, you’ll see the whole story. There’ll be no doubt in your mind that there was influence here and using their power to enrich themselves,” he added.
