NR0925: Beltran to file charges against GSIS' Garcia

Mula sa Tanggapan ni Anakpawis Rep. Crispin B. Beltran
News Release September 25, 2004
House of Representatives, South Wing Rm 602
931-6615 Ina Alleco R. Silverio, chief of staff
Email: paggawa@edsamail.com.ph, anakpawis2003@yahoo.com
Celphone number 09213907362
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Rep. Beltran calls GSIS' Garcia's bluff; will file corruption charges against
Garcia at the Ombudsman's and Civil Service Commission (CSC)

Anakpawis Representative Crispin Beltran today said that there was much more to
accusations of corruption against Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)
president and general manager Winston Garcia than the 11 missing artworks.
The overpaid executive is currently under fire because of the loss of 11
valuable artworks from the GSIS museum. The artworks are valued at 1.4
million.

"Garcia is responsible for more than just missing paintings, pottery or other
artpieces. The crimes he has committed as president and general manager of the
GSIS are much more infamous; and it is for these that he should be hauled
off to court and punished with imprisonment. Under Garcia, the GSIS has become
the biggest milking cow of the Macapagl-Arroyo administration and has lost
millions of funds it is supposedly managing for themillions of government
employees who are its main beneficiaries.

Beltran laughed off the threats of Garcia that he will file charges against
solons who dare accuse of mismanaging the GSIS and his (Garcia's) challenge to
solons that they file charges against him at the Ombudsman's. He said he is
willing and even eager to call Garcia's bluff. He said that in the coming week
he will personally file corruption charges against Garcia at the Office of the
Ombudsman, and similar complaints of executive abuse at the Civil Service
Commission (CSC).

"Big words for a man who hides behind the President of the Republic. There are
already several cases filed against Garcia at the Office of the Ombudsman,
but so far none of them have prospered because Garcia is protected by Pres.
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself. Garcia enjoys the protection of the
President who considers him a favorite," he said. Beltran said that Pres.
Arroyo should stop protecting Garcia and immediately relieve him from office,
as well as support for investigations into Garcia's mismanagement of the GSIS
funds and other abuses.

"Garcia enjoys the life and lifestyle of pompous royalty because he is
protected by Malacanang. He has been throwing his weight around the GSIS and
abusing his authority for his own economic, financial gain at the expense
of the GSIS employees and all government employees who are the rightful owners
and beneficiaries of the GSIS funds. "

At the onset, Beltran said that Garcia should be investigated on the following
grounds:

1) Several anti-employee GSIS resolutions resulting in the lay-off of rank and
file employees who spoke up against other GSIS executive board resolutions
affecting release of funds for beneficiaries;
2) Nepotism in the hiring of board members
3) Garcia's various loans and withdrawals from the funds which up to remain
unaccounted for an unaudited, among them a P1 million salary loan.

"The infamous details of these se issues will come out fully in the coming
days. I challenge Garcia to stop hiding behind Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
and face investigations on his own."#