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BSP says 5 of 6 staffers in ‘ghost employees’ scandal resigned but cases proceed

The facade of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on February 15, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Arthur Fuentes

ABS-CBN News

MANILA - The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Tuesday said 5 of the 6 staffers implicated in the “ghost employees” scandal had already resigned, but the cases against them will continue.In a statement, the BSP said it filed administrative disciplinary cases against the staffers who were receiving salaries and benefits from the central bank without actually working.“The irregularities appear unprecedented in an organization that upholds integrity and professionalism at all levels,” the BSP said.It also provided more details on the investigation, but also cautioned that it could not disclose more because “administrative disciplinary proceedings are ongoing, further information about them may be confidential.”According to the BSP, it began investigating the issue in October 2023 “after receiving credible information that several staffers in the offices of two MB [Monetary Board] members had not been reporting for work for extended periods of time but were nonetheless receiving their salaries.”<div> </div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GDJq2wf2Vfw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>The Monetary Board has 7 members, including the Governor, who are appointed by the President. It is tasked with deciding the country’s interest rates and supervising the financial system.“In December, the Office of the General Counsel received an initial report of the investigation and instructed the investigating team to proceed with an in-depth investigation.”“In January, the investigating team submitted the final investigation report, where four employees and their two immediate supervisors were identified. The Office of the General Counsel signed it”.“From late February to early March, four of the employees and one direct supervisor implicated in the report tendered their resignation. Administrative disciplinary cases were filed in March before [the] effectivity of their separation.”Meanwhile, the BSP said the Monetary Board has functioned as normal.“In response to speculation that vacancies may occur that would affect the board’s operations, the 7-member board can continue to perform most of its duties provided there is a 4-member quorum and the rest of its duties such as granting emergency loans, with 5 members.”Meanwhile, Monetary Board Member and former BSP Gov. Benjamin took issue with a report by another news outlet which said that his tenure was marred by “politicization” or the appointment of people based on political connections instead of merit.“I strongly object to the allegation that the BSP was “politicized” during my watch.  I’m proud of what I did as BSP Governor during the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic,” Diokno said.Diokno, who was appointed by then-President Rodrigo Duterte, said the former chief executive “respected the independence of the BSP during the most difficult period in the Philippines’ recent history.”“During my watch as BSP governor from March 4, 2019 to June 30, 2022, President Duterte never called me to influence monetary policy.  It was never politicized.&quot;

The BSP has filed administrative disciplinary cases against the staffers receiving salaries and benefits from the central bank without actually working.

The BSP has filed administrative disciplinary cases against the staffers receiving salaries and benefits from the central bank without actually working.