GSIS: PCIJ story full of lies

Winston Garcia, president and general manager of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), branded as "libelous, malicious and without an iota of evidence" a report by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) entitled "A Ne-ver-ending Scam."

Reached by The STAR for comment, Garcia said the PCIJ story "is full of insinuations, has placed malice on our official actions, and — to make matters worse — is bereft of any evidence. To say that it is libelous is even an understatement."

He clarified point by point the issues raised in the PCIJ report.

In a strongly worded statement, Garcia cited as an example of falsity of the PCIJ report allegation that he was charged with graft while he was still a provincial board member of Cebu.

"I was never charged with graft. The report has done itself a disservice. It has become a purveyor of lies, of hearsay, and therefore, does not deserve to be called "journalism."

He took exceptions to the PCIJ’s claim that he employed a certain Rufino Mijares as his alleged negotiator and man-Friday at the GSIS."

"Mijares is not connected at all (with) GSIS. And I have not seen him for the past nine months, so how can he be my man-Friday?" Garcia pointed out.

He challenged the PCIJ to give details of its accusations of alleged irregular transactions. "I am sure they cannot come up with a single deal," he said.

The GSIS chief also noted that the report suffered from gross misinformation.

"The problem of the writers is that they have taken the allegations of our protagonists hook, line and sinker," Garcia added.

On the GSIS’ use of the National Re-insurance Corp., Garcia argued that the corporation was "a creation of law" precisely to ensure that government reinsurance requirements were handled professionally.

Garcia also belied insinuations that he stopped the public bidding for the reinsurance requirements of the state-run National Power Corp. (Napocor), saying he even fought for an open public bidding on the issue.

"It was Napocor who wanted to restrict the number of reinsurance brokers to three from the original number of seven bidders," Garcia clarified.

On the issue of alleged "hefty commissions" arising from the reinsurance transactions, Garcia said he was not yet at the GSIS at the time of the deal.

Nevertheless, he said he has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate all cases of graft at the government pension fund.

"Needless to say, I am fully cooperating with any investigation into graft and corruption, if any, so that those who are guilty will be prosecuted, and those who are innocent will be cleared," the statement said.

Garcia asserted that Napocor has not lodged any collection suit against GSIS.

"The story of PCIJ is long on allegations and short on evidence. It truly has given a bad name to their vaunted integrity," Garcia rued.

He said PCIJ even failed to get his side to balance its story in adherence to "a respected tenet of journalism."

"But PCIJ decided to issue this report violating all standards of accuracy, fairness . I must tell them that there are dire consequences to reckless reporting," he said, but did not elaborate.