GSIS auditors stage mass walkout

The whole Commission on Audit (COA) personnel complement of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) head office in Pasay City staged a walk-out yesterday morning to protest the alleged questionable and vengeful transfer of their office ordered by GSIS chairman Winston Garcia.

The protesting COA personnel said they suspected that Garcia’s order for them to vacate their offices at the sixth floor of the GSIS building near Roxas Boulevard had something to do with a recent call they made for the Office of the Ombudsman to probe irregularities in the agency.

It was learned that Garcia had recently issued a memorandum to the COA ordering the transfer of their office to a collection of rooms at the second floor of the building, beside the canteen and the carpentry office.

The COA employees said that because of the transfer order, they would have to temporarily stay at the COA head office along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City while their new offices are being prepared.

A COA-GSIS official, Christina Dimagiba, speaking before reporters, said they suspected that the move was meant to stop them from uncovering more anomalies in several transactions and dealings under Garcia’s stewardship.

The COA employees said that a COA audit of recent GSIS transactions uncovered instances of alleged illegal bidding for projects and illegal commissions received by the agency’s officials.

It was learned that Garcia is now being probed by the Ombudsman after graft charges were filed against him by GSIS employees.

GSIS employees had also reportedly written an open letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to investigate irregularities at the GSIS.

Nilo Racimo, vice president for corporate affairs, denied accusations that the GSIS leadership was driving out the COA.

Racimo said that Garcia’s order for the COA to transfer was part of the GSIS’s efforts in rationalizing the use of their space in their new building.

Racimo said a building space planning consultant hired years ago had just recently made out with a space use plan that necessitated the transfer.

The GSIS official said that it was the COA officials that insisted on their moving to the COA head office in Quezon City.

Racimo said the move was not necessary since the COA office could immediately transfer to their new office at the second floor which he pointed out was accessible and convenient.

In the matter of the COA employees’ accusation of irregularities, Racimo said they welcome any investigation.