Court fines Davao City dad for SSS violations

DAVAO CITY - A local judge has fined a city councilor for his failure to report to the Social Security System (SSS) on time the compulsory coverage of three workers of his family-owned hospital.

Municipal Trial Court Judge Antonio Laolao imposed a total of P25,500 in fines and damages on second district councilor Senforiano Alterado despite the testimonies of three ranking SSS officials clearing him of any criminal liability.

Laolao found Alterado guilty of three violations of Republic Act 1161 (Social Security Act) when he failed to report the SSS coverage of the three hospital workers on the first day of their employment.

Alterado, a lawyer and owner of the Alterado General Hospital and MATS College of Technology, hired medical technologist Claire Sienes and staff nurses Myla Averilla and Ma. Cecilia Canete in mid-1993.

But SSS record officer Abraham Matoco said the coverage of the three workers was only reported to the SSS on Jan. 28, 1994.

Laolao said RA 1161 mandates that compulsory SSS coverage takes effect on the first day of the employer's operation, and for employees, on the first day of their employment.

Laolao ruled against Alterado despite the testimonies of SSS assistant regional manager Pablo Orilla, legal officer Evangeline Hernaez and accounting division chief Narissa Castigador that the councilor did not violate the law.

Alterado though admitted the delay in the submission of the three workers' SSS coverage.

But he justified that the SSS coverage of the three workers was only reported on Jan. 28, 1994, the day the hospital was registered with the SSS.

Alterado said all his workers' SSS contributions, since they were hired, were actually remitted to the agency.

"Be that as it may, the Alterado General Hospital which already operated on June 1, 1993 should have registered itself for compulsory (SSS) coverage on June 1, 1993 (the day when one of the complainants was hired) . . . and not on Jan. 28, 1994," Laolao said.