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Incoming Social Security System (SSS) President Romulo Neri on
Thursday brushed aside reports that his latest appointment was a
“political payback” and a “gift” from President Gloria
Arroyo for his continued silence over the botched $330-million
national broadband deal with China’s ZTE Corp.
The Senate tried to force Neri to shed more
light on the broadband deal, but he kept silent and even filed a
case before the Supreme Court, which ruled that he enjoyed
“executive privilege” and may choose not to disclose details on
the botched contract.
During an interview over ABS-CBN’s morning
show Umagang Kay Ganda, Neri said that if President Arroyo wanted to
give him a “gift,” it would be his old post at the National
Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
He added that he has been lobbying to be
reinstated to his old job as director general of NEDA.
Neri said he is qualified to head the SSS
because of his extensive background, having finished a course in
finance at UCLA. He added he had worked with prominent private
companies before moving to NEDA, the Commission on Higher Education
(CHED) and now, the SSS.
“I am qualified for the SSS. Finance is my
major,” Neri said.
He added that he sees his new job at the SSS as
a big challenge since his marching orders are to make sure that
benefits being made available by the the pension agency would be
maximized by its members, especially during these critical economic
times.
Neri debunked reports that he never really
wanted the post at CHED, saying that he only wanted out because he
would be violating the law if he continued to stay. He added that
since he does have a doctoral degree, he could not stay for more
than a year at the education commission.
Neri said he was designated by President Arroyo
to head the education commission to “trouble-shoot” its
problems, and he submitted a report of his accomplishments to the
President after the holding of the Education Summit late last year.
Sources from the education commission said
Commissioner Nona Ricafort has gotten the edge over Angeles
University Foundation Chancellor Emmanuel Angeles, who is said to be
Neri’s replacement.
De la Paz sees politics
During a separate interview, Neri said he wants
to reach out to the employees of the pension agency and make sure
its funds are used appropriately.
He revealed that he will be meeting with
outgoing SSS president Corazon de la Paz on Monday to discuss
matters related to his assuming the top post of the pension agency.
“In my case at NEDA and CHED, I didn’t have
problems with employees,” Neri said in Filipino, adding he wants
to get off to a smooth start when he formally takes over the SSS on
August 1.
Also during an interview over Umagang Kay Ganda,
de la Paz said she blocked the moves of some quarters to use the
funds of SSS members for the government’s pro-poor agenda.
The outgoing SSS chief said on Wednesday that
there was politics involved in her resignation, which will take
effect on July 31.
“What I was saying was that it [funding
pro-poor programs] is not included in the [SSS] Charter. Using the
funds has limits,” de la Paz added.
She said that SSS funds cannot be used to
finance pro-poor projects of the government “unless it is defined
in the [SSS] Charter.” The pension agency is a
government-controlled financial institution.
De la Paz said she had to “make a stand” on
the issue, and her decision may have been received negatively by
some people.
“I said of course there will always be
politics [in government], [especially] if your actions offended some
people,” she added.
When asked to specify what she meant by
politics, de la Paz cited the current economic crisis being
experienced by poor Filipinos.
She, however, clarified that politics is just
one of the reasons for her resignation. She said her spine’s
condition has become a hindrance to the discharge of her duties as
SSS president. “An SSS president has many responsibilities. The
agency needs a person who has no health problems.”
-- Francis Earl A. Cueto
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