Ex-Mamburao mayor gets jail term for violating GSIS Law

FORMER Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro mayor Voltaire Anthony Villarosa has been convicted by the Sandiganbayan for violating RA 8291 or the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Law for failure to remit P4.81 million in contributions and loan payments of municipal employees from September 20, 2015 to May 20, 2016.

In its decision issued last June 10, the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division sentenced the former local chief executive to serve two to four years in prison and pay a fine of P10,000.

The ruling also tolled the end of the political career of the former mayor, the son of the late former Governor Jose Villarosa and late Deputy House Speaker Ma. Amelita Villarosa.

“He shall also suffer the penalty of absolute perpetual disqualification from holding public office and from practicing any profession or calling licensed by the government,” the Sandiganbayan declared.

Associate Justice Karl B. Miranda penned the 46-page decision, with Associate Justices Sarah Jane T. Fernandez and Kevin Narce B. Vivero concurring.

The accused was acquitted on two other criminal charges for violation of Section 3 (e) of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and violation of Section 81 in relation to Section 272 of RA 8424 or the 1997 National Internal Revenue Code on the ground of insufficient evidence to sustain a guilty verdict.

The cases were initiated by incumbent Mamburao Mayor Angeline Tria after she received several notifications and demand letters from the GSIS Batangas Branch to remit the compulsory premium contributions of municipal employees in the total amount of P4,808,283.63.

The Commission on Audit issued several Audit Observation Memoranda (AOMs) on the municipal government’s P133.31 million overdraft in 2015 and its non-remittance of mandatory deductions from government employees for their health and social benefits.

It was only in 2018 and 2019, during the term of Mayor Tria, that the unremitted GSIS contributions were finally paid.

“Villarosa showed no competent evidence that he diligently followed up on the status of the outstanding liabilities of the LGU of Mamburao. In fact, he admitted that he was remiss in his duty to follow up with his