SSS chief resigns to run for House seat

MANILA, Philippines — The head of the state-run pension fund Social Security System (SSS) has tendered his resignation to vie for a seat in the House of Representatives in the midterm polls next year.

In a letter to President Marcos, SSS president and chief executive officer Rolando Macasaet said he is tendering his irrevocable resignation effective Nov. 15.

This is in view of the temporary restraining order issued by the Supreme Court on government officials seeking to run in the elections.

Macasaet said he is filing his certificate of nomination and acceptance as nominee of the SSS-GSIS Pensyonado (SGP) party-list on Sunday.

As such, his tenure as president and CEO of SSS involuntarily ends by operation of law.

Macasaet formally assumed office as the 20th head of SSS in January 2022.

Macasaet previously held the position of president and general manager of another state-run pension fund, Government Service Insurance System, during the last four years of the Duterte administration.

In a separate statement, SGP said Macasaet has a firm understanding of how the national pension system works, as well as the limitations of such institutions, which may be addressed through legislative representation.

As a party-list, SGP aims to promote the interests of all active members and pensioners of the SSS and GSIS as well as their beneficiaries and family members.

It also plans to provide full protection against the hazards of income loss through a strong and stable Philippine pension system.

Four members of the House of Representatives are making another run at the chamber as they seek reelection next year.

They are Representatives Gerville Luistro of Batangas’ Second District, Reynante Arrogancia of Quezon province’s Third District, Kristine Alexie Tutor of Bohol’s Third District and Angelica Natasha Co, who filed her certificate of nomination and acceptance as nominee of the Barangay Health and Wellness (BHW) party-list.

According to Arrogancia, he is not yet done serving his district so he decided to seek another term in the 2025 polls. This is despite what he claimed were efforts of other candidates to unseat him.

For her part, Tutor noted she is seeking a new mandate