Ombudsman lifts preventive suspension vs GSIS chief Veloso, other execs

The Office of the Ombudsman has lifted the suspension against Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso and other officials of the pension fund.

The Ombudsman imposed a six-month preventive suspension without pay against Veloso and other GSIS executives on July 11, 2025. Among them are Executive Vice President Michael Praxedes, Vice President Aaron Samuel Chan, Vice President Mary Abigail Cruz Francisco, Officer II Jaime Leon Warren, and Acting Officer IV Alfredo Pablo in relation to its probe on the pension fund’s P1.45-billion stock purchase from Alternergy Holdings Corporation.

The preventive suspension was imposed to avoid any prejudice which may be caused by the respondents’ continued stay in office during the investigation of the case and to preserve documents and pieces of evidence pertaining to this case, which respondents may have control and custody of.

Acting Ombudsman Dante Vargas, in lifting the preventive suspension, said that “evaluation of the case records and submitted pleadings reveals that the documents/evidence pertaining to the proper disposition of this case are already on hand.”

“Moreover, there appears insufficient ground to believe that their continued stay in office may prejudice the investigation of the case filed against the respondents. Thus, the continued imposition of preventive suspension of the above-named respondents… is no longer necessary,” the Ombudsman said.

The lifting of the suspension, however, does not apply to Praxedes and Chan, as they are no longer connected with the GSIS.

Nonetheless, the Ombudsman said that “all other respondents are ordered reinstated.”

Return

In a separate statement, Veloso said, “I respect this decision and will comply with the directive to resume my duties at the Government Service Insurance System.”

“The findings of the Ombudsman affirm that there is insufficient ground to believe that my continued service would prejudice the ongoing investigation. I welcome this as a recognition of the professionalism and integrity with which I have conducted myself throughout my tenure,” the GSIS chief said.

“From the beginning, I have always acted in good faith and in accordance with the policies, procedures, and legal limits governing GSIS,” he added.

Veloso, moreover, said that he looks forward to returning to the GSIS and “not to dwell on past distractions, but to continue the work of protecting and growing the GSIS fund for the future of all government workers.”

“As President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has consistently emphasized, GSIS must remain focused on securing the long-term financial security of public servants and their families. I am committed to that mission. Our work continues—with humility, resolve, and the quiet focus of a public servant,” he added. —VAL, GMA Integrated News