The Supreme Court (SC) has acquitted Sto. Tomas, Isabela Mayor Antonio M. Talaue of violating Republic Act No. 8291, also known as the GSIS Act of 1997.
Talaue was acquitted of allegations pertaining to municipal employees’ failure to remit their Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) contributions.
Associate Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan wrote the Court’s Special First Division’s ruling, which held that a mayor’s official obligations do not include sending GSIS contributions.
The SC decision made it apparent that submitting employee contributions to the Government Service Insurance System is not part of a mayor’s official duties. (GSIS).
According to the 21-page resolution of the SC Special First Division dated July, the Local Government Code refers to municipal mayors as “chief executives” instead of “heads of offices” as defined by the GSIS Act of 1997.
“The Local Government Code of 1991 in no way mentions paying GSIS premiums as a part of a mayor’s responsibilities. Furthermore, the Municipality of Sto’s internal memos and procedures were not mentioned. It stated, “Tomas, Isabela about the mayor’s involvement in sending in GSIS premium contributions.”
