BACK from his month-long leave to take care of his sick wife, Philippine Sports Commission chairman William Ramirez hit the ground running Monday, asking the Office of the Solicitor General to seize the assets of the PSC employee found to be involved in a payroll scam.
“We need all the help we can get to get to the bottom of this and make every effort that nothing of this sort ever happens again,” Ramirez said as he presided over a board meeting to discuss pertinent matters.
In his letter to the OSG, Ramirez sought “assistance in instituting proper proceedings relative to the complaint filed against Paul Michael Ignacio,” including garnishment of all real or personal property and the reversion of these back to the government.
Last week, Ignacio was picked up by National Bureau of Investigation agents acting on the request of PSC Executive Director Merlita Ibay for assistance on the discovered payroll padding committed by Ignacio. This also prompted the agency to take stock of its entire operations, some areas of which received ISO certification just last year.
“The board is 100% with che Chairman on this,” said Commissioner Ramon Fernandez, the PSC officer in charge when the irregularity was discovered.
Atty. Guillermo Iroy Jr., Deputy Executive Director for Support, has been appointed to lead the legal team in pursuing the case.
During the same board meeting, it was agreed to have process and organizational auditors to help the agency in its mission to fortify all bureaus.
Ramirez said that “we need fresh eyes to take a look at our processes and seek out areas that need to be strengthened.”
Another online meeting is set on Wednesday between the board and the audit team.
