School owners charged for not remitting SSS premium

CEBU, Philippines - The owners of M ZED Christian School were charged before the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City for violation of the Social Security Act because of their alleged failure to remit the premium of one of its teachers to the Social Security System.

The Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office indicted Marianito and Cecille Zerda for violation of Section 28(e) of the Republic Act 8282.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed before the SSS by Godoberta Corral, former teacher of M ZED Christian School in Banawa, Barangay Guadalupe.

Corral claimed that the school failed to remit her premiums amounting to P45,642 from June 1998 to March, 2004. Her former employers’ alleged failure to remit the premiums had gained penalties amounting to P105,061.67.   Corral said that Cecille, directress of the school, promised to pay the premiums including the penalties for a total amount of P150,703.67 to the SSS but failed. Several demands were made by the SSS but until now, the obligation remained unsettled.

Assistant Cebu City Prosecutor Rodulph Joseph Val Carillo found probable cause to indict the accused of the crime because of their failure to rebut the allegations.

In a one-page resolution finding probable cause against the Zerdas, Carillo said they did not submit their counter-affidavit to answer the accusations despite a subpoena sent to them.

The prosecutor’s office has recommended bail of P24,000 to each of the accused for their temporary liberty. —Fred P. Languido/LPM (THE FREEMAN)