Entrepreneurial Farmer

by Ambrosio R. Villorente

The Power of the Garcias of Cebu

"Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Mr. Pablo Garcia has just been elected congressman of his district in Cebu. His son, Pablo John is also elected congressman of another district in Cebu. Ms. Gwendolyn Garcia, a daughter of Pablo and sister of Pablo John is the provincial governor of Cebu province. Mr. Winston Garcia is the GSIS president and general manager. He is the son of Cong. Pablo Garcia, brother of congressman Pablo John Garcia and Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.
What a concentration of power to a family! Not only that, Cong. Pablo Garcia is moving heaven and earth to be elected speaker in the House of Representatives. If Mr. Garcia succeeded in his bid as speaker, he will be the fourth ranking official of the Philippines after the president, vice president and senate president. His daughter Gwendolyn is the top official of Cebu province. Of the seven congressional districts of Cebu, two are occupied by father Pablo and his son, Pablo John. Moreover, the premier financial institution of the Philippines which is the GSIS is the preserve of the son, Winston Garcia.
Wow! What a concentration of power! And to think that the GSIS offices are deluged with complaints, the subjects of criticism, how can reforms be instituted when the father of the GSIS president/general manager is the speaker of the House of Representatives where legislative measures are filled, discussed and approved?
The GSIS is wealthy, developed through the years and now by the state employees’ hard earned money calculated to safeguard their welfare. Mr. Pablo Garcia has even engaged himself in the purchase of some paintings. Mr. Garcia has been enjoying the luxurious salaries, allowances and other benefits while the state employees are enduring the monthly hunger salaries that do not even arrive on time. It is reminded that the GSIS was organized for the welfare of state employees, but never to inflict pain on them.
e-Card
Now, with his e-Card, Mr. Garcia is so callous as he continuously imposes it. First, it gave mental anguish, under exertion of effort to have it, only to find out the impracticality of its use in the provinces and cities. State employees were forced to line up over night to secure such electronics card.
Not contented with his enjoyment watching government workers lining from morning till night under either sun or shower to secure e-Card, Mr. Garcia turned to government pensioners.
After spending the best years of their lives with the hope to spend the remaining years of it, Mr. Garcia is now frustrating their hopes. Since that "no e-Card, no pension" policy of the GSIS, some government pensioners with only a few have received their monthly pension after some delays some have not yet receive since January 2007 while others, sad to say, have passed away.
Thanks to Mr. Garcia’s ennoble idea, causing daily pain however.
GSIS pensioners are in general of advance age, senior citizens with impaired senses. Some are on the wheelchairs whom Mr. Garcia compels to secure from his GSIS office e-Card. The e-Card must be activated so that it can be an instrument to withdraw money from ATM booth. To use that e-Card, a pensioner must memorize his PIN number, and must know how to operate the ATM machine to withdraw his money.
Business Out of Pension Fund
Why is the GSIS placing money with the Union Bank, 50 percent of its shares of stock is owned by the Aboitiz group of companies of Cebu where Mr. Winston Garcia came from? The Social Security System which has 25 percent shares of stock in Union Bank places its pension money according to the bank of the pensioner’s choice.
Does the GSIS make business out of pension fund with the Union Bank? Union Bank has no branch in Panay and Guimaras Island except a small branch in Iloilo City. A pensioner who withdraws his money from any branch other than Union Bank pays P12.00 per withdrawal. He pays P3.00 per inquiry. Is this business? How much interest does Union Bank pay to GSIS for depositing GSIS money in it?
The use of Electronics Card is going with the time. However, using Union Bank with no branch in all the provinces is highly questionable. The physical condition of the GSIS pensioners who are in their twilight years does not match the use and application of e-Card.
In the column of Belinda Olivares - Cunanan, "Political Tidbits" in the Philippine Daily Inquirer issued on June 12, 2007, she wrote: "Rep. Pablo Garcia’s, son, GSIS president and CEO Winston Garcia, has also assumed high media visibility in this fight (for the House Speakership) fight. There are reports about Winston’s meeting various representatives at Dusit Nikko Hotel in Makati, where he is said to have personally handed them grease money: P200,000 for the neophytes (there are 107 of them) and P300,000 for the second and third termers. A high-powered PR outfit is handling the media campaign for Pablo, courtesy of Winston."/MP