MANILA - Social Security System President Emmanuel Dooc on Friday denied a colleague's allegation that a "mafia" was operating in the state-run pension fund.

Commissioner Jose Gabriel La Viña this week filed an administrative complaint before the Ombudsman against 21 SSS officials over alleged anomalous media contracts in the last 2 years.

"Noong panahon na ako'y nakaupo na, hindi ko nakita na nagkaroon ng mafia,” Dooc told DZMM.

(Ever since I assumed office, I didn't see any mafia.)

Direct contracting is allowed in the SSS under certain conditions and hirings are based on civil service rules, Dooc said.

"Hindi po maappoint kung hindi aprubado ng SSS commission at kasali po kami dyan ni Ginoong Laviña," he said.

(No one gets appointed without the approval of the SSS commission and Mr. La Viña and myself are part of that.)

"Baka may nakikita ang butihing commissioner na may nagagawang hindi tama, pero yan po ay dapat mapatunayan at kailangan bigyan ng due process ang ating mga kasamahan," Dooc said.

(Maybe the good commissioner saw wrongdoing, but that has to be proven and our colleagues should be given due process.)

• Read: SSS officials face misconduct rap over stock purchases