March 29, 2024

The Social Security System announced that authorities arrested two employers who were convicted of non-compliance to the Social Security Law in separate operations in the previous months.
Authorities arrested Antonio Perlas, owner of Red Lion Pub, in Barangay Tuding, Itogon, Benguet last July 31, and Larry T. Ferrer, owner of Ads Central, in Alaminos, Pangasinan on Aug. 26.  
Perlas, SSS’ most wanted employer in Luzon North 1 Division, was convicted by the Baguio Regional Trial Court Branch 7 on Oct. 30, 2019 for violation of Section 24 (d), in relation to Sec. 18 (a) and Sec. 19 (a) and (b) of the Social Security Act of 2018.  
Perlas violated the said provisions by failing to produce records as prescribed by the SSS, deduct employee’s share of contributions from his employees’ compensations, pay the employer’s share of contributions, and remit them to the SSS.  
He was sentenced to six years in prison and to pay his obligations amounting to over P16.8 million, as computed by the RTC sheriff as of August 2020. He failed to appear during the last scheduled hearing for promulgation with no acceptable excuse. The court ordered his arrest.
The case against Ferrer was provisionally dismissed on August 2015 because of his proposal to pay to the SSS in installment his employees’ contributions that he failed to remit, including penalties for late payments.  
He had fully paid his principal obligation; however, penalties amounting to P40,172.04 remained unsettled. For this reason, the case against him was revived on Jan. 27, 2017.  
The trial proceeded in absentia as, back then, he remained at large despite the issuance of a warrant of arrest.
In a decision dated May 21, the RTC Branch 7 found Ferrer guilty for violation of Sec. 22 (a), in relation to Sec. 22 (d) and 28 (e) of the SSS Act 8282. He will serve a sentence of six years and one day up to a maximum of eight years in prison and pay his SSS obligation of P40,172.04 plus three percent monthly interest accumulated from Aug. 19, 2015.  
The penalties could have been condoned through the SSS’ Contribution Penalty Condonation Program for Employers when it was still offered. Ferrer did not avail of the said program. – Press release