2 new Fund board trustees confirmed, sworn into office

Just about two hours after the Senate confirmed their nomination to the Retirement Fund board of trustees, Francisco P. Rosario and Adelina C. Roberto were sworn into office by acting Gov. Eloy S. Inos yesterday.

Rosario and Roberto begin work promptly as they attend today’s Retirement Fund board of trustees meeting.

By a voice vote, eight of the nine members of the Senate present at yesterday’s session confirmed the nominees.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial nominated Rosario and Roberto on May 12, a day before he met with Senate Pres. Pete P. Reyes and House Speaker Arnold I. Palacios, asking them to join him in writing a letter to the NMI Retirement Fund board of trustees to consider an out-of-court mediation in the ongoing court proceedings.

The Retirement Fund sued the government over non-payment of the required employer contribution to the pension system.

Its current chairman, Juan T. Guerrero, said the parties to the case are way past the negotiation period.

Inos, during a brief swearing-in ceremony yesterday for the two nominees, said the administration looks forward to working with the Retirement Fund board of trustees to find solutions to problems affecting the pension system.

“The administration stands ready to work with the Fund,” he said.

Roberto and Rosario complete the eight-member Retirement Fund board of trustees chaired by Juan T. Guerrero. The other board trustees are Pedro Q. Dela Cruz, Sixto K. Igisomar, Benedicta C. Tenorio, Bernardita C. Palacios, and Marian DLG. Tudela.

Roberto, in a brief interview yesterday, said the Retirement Fund lawsuit against the government is a top priority. “Let’s see what happens,” said Roberto, a businesswoman.

Rosario also said the ongoing court proceeding is a matter of priority. Rosario, the current chief internal auditor for Joeten Enterprises, previously worked as special assistant for planning and management, and as budget officer in the government.

Senate Pres. Pete P. Reyes yesterday said he has yet to receive the letter that the administration plans on sending to the board of trustees, which, in turn, could write a letter to Superior Court Associate Judge Kenneth Govendo to “suspend” the ongoing court proceedings in the case so that the parties can reach an out-of-court settlement.

Phase one of the court hearing began in April, but the court has yet to decide how much is owed by the government to the Retirement Fund.

Government lawyers in the case have said the government owes the Retirement Fund $213 million, while the Fund said it is $215 million.