Swindlers and the SSS

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The Bacolod police arrested Wednesday two persons who were found to have used a fake Social Security System check to pay for a car battery they had purchased from a store in the city. The owner of the establishment soon discovered that the check was not genuine because it was refused by his depository bank.

The owner promptly reported the incident to the police who set up a plan for nabbing the perpetrators. The culprits soon fell into their hands when one of them attempted to negotiate again with the tire company. Unknown to him, the police had been tipped and promptly arrested him. Later, they were also able to apprehend the woman with whom he was apparently working.

Almost simultaneously, a similar case was confronting the Quezon City police. This time, however, they got bigger fish, because they were able to round up a group involved in producing fake identification cards and documents needed to file claims with the SSS. The suspected members of the syndicate were nabbed right in front of the SSS Building in Quezon City.

Officials of the SSS should be alarmed and should take steps to protect their members from the operations of these syndicates. In Bacolod, the swindling took the form of fake checks, while in Quezon City, the police busted one actually producing fake or forged documents and IDs that could be used to rob the government agency of money belonging to its members. With two such criminal schemes being uncovered on virtually the same day, how many more could be existing throughout the whole country?

What is further appalling is how these unscrupulous and criminally-inclined people could deprive the poor members, especially the aged retirees, of the loans, pensions and other benefits they are entitled to. For sure, not all police offices in the country have the men or the know-how for uncovering such scams. It is the SSS, therefore, who should set up some foolproof system so it can truly protect its members who, after all, own the funds that are only in its care.*