The left-leaning Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) lambasted Government Service and Insurance System’s president Winston Garcia for using squid tactics in hiding the real issue concerning his mismanagement of the state pension fund and his obvious enrichment following his appointment to office. According to Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of the group, “it is highly deplorable that a person entrusted to handle the hard-earned funds of sate employees would be the one to raid their coffers. The cases brought against Garcia namely the unliquidation of P5.25 million cash advances as well as his appointment of his sister Carolyn Garcia Empemano, as his executive assistant, reeks of malversation of public funds and nepotism,”

“These issues by themselves would entail an official to resign out of delicadeza and as not to influence the result of a probe if it is forthcoming or at the least is he can go on leave to show that he is serious in facing the charges and only wants the truth to be known. But what did Garcia do? He launched a counter-attack that seeks to muddle the issues and they have not been even probed yet,” added the peasant leader.

Garcia is claiming that the reason behind the probe against him is for his refusal to accede to a reinsurance company to change the policy of GSIS on Napocor. Before his term Garcia is saying that the company used to reinsure Napocor premiums up to 90%, but last year about 70% was retained by the GSIS. Now it is even alleged that he made a loan worth 2.1 million on the GSIS and he was able to get it on the day itself. What’s more appalling is that he used the money to buy a Volvo.

“Granted that the congressmen have an ulterior motive in this expose, would the validity of the case suffer? It still should be immediately probed, besides his own employees are demanding his head? Furthermore anomalies have racked his office since he was appointed and all fingers are pointing at him. While government rank and file employees are demanding P3,000 across the board wage increase, he has been earning P5.6 million in the GSIS, no wonder that he sticks like a leech to his post,” said Carl Anthony Ala, public information officer of KMP.

“But what is really puzzling though is that Malacanang has up till now been silent on Garcia’s case. It is as if it is a willing victim to the latter’s squid tactics. The Palace keeps denying that Garcia is a “sacred cow”, Sec. Bunye even saying that it is just an impression but of course impressions have their basis.  Besides the Chief executive’s actions or for that matter inaction speaks louder than words. Our conclusion is indeed, Winston Garcia is a “sacred cow,” and we cannot rely on Malacanang to do anything about him,” ended Ala. # # #
 

KMP - 23 September 2004