Solons slam SSS execs for bonus request

Senior opposition congressmen yesterday decried the petition of the Social Security System (SSS) to reward its executives a P1-million performance bonus for their supposed efforts in guaranteeing a P35-billion investment income for the pension fund.

Representatives Martin Romualdez ( Lakas- CMD, Leyte) and Neri Colmenares (Bayan Muna Partylist) chided SSS executives for allegedly displaying impunity by proposing fat bonuses for themselves after they succeeded in convincing President Aquino to veto a Congress-approved bill proposing a “meager” P2,000 additional increase in SSS pensions for retired members.

Romualdez said that the SSS officials, led by its president Emilio de Quiroz, do not deserve the bonuses because they failed to show compassion for retired members who are all senior citizens.

“The timing is very questionable. The request is very selfish and leaves (a) bad taste (in the mouth). No SSS official deserves a bonus,” said Romualdez, who is running for senator.

He added: “They are there to serve and protect the pensioners and not to reward themselves with heavy perks. What they should do now is to show malasakit (compassion) to our pensioners.”

Romualdez joined Colmenares, also a senatorial candidate, in assailing the SSS request for performance bonuses as both “immoral and very insensitive.”

“Surely, the request itself is now causing hard feelings to senior citizenpensioners. I am surprised and saddened by their (SSS officials’) insensitivity,” added Romualdez.