Sandigan affirms Isabela town mayor’s conviction

STO. TOMAS, Isabela -- The Sandiganbayan has upheld the conviction of Sto. Tomas Mayor Antonio Talaue for failing to remit the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) premium contributions of municipal employees.

In a six-page resolution promulgated on July 19 and released Wednesday, the anti-graft court’s second division denied Talaue’s motion to reverse its March 15 decision that found him guilty of violating Section 52 (g) of Republic Act 8291 or the GSIS Act.

The court also denied Talaue’s supplemental motion not to impose the accessory penalty of perpetual disqualification from public office. 

The case stemmed from non-remittance of GSIS premium contributions from January 1997 to January 2004 amounting to P22.436 million.

“His self-serving statement that he instructed the municipal treasurer to remit the contributions does not absolve him from non-compliance with his legal obligations as head of agency,” the court ruling read.

“From the time that he received the first notice from the GSIS in 2003, he had ample time and opportunity to check whether the municipal treasurer had been regularly performing his duties, especially in remitting the GSIS contributions which had long been overdue,” it said.

Talaue did not respond to five more notices issued by the GSIS, the Sandiganbayan added.

In its earlier ruling, the court sentenced Talaue to up to five years in prison. He was also ordered to pay a fine of P20,000.