BACOLOD CITY – The City Legal Office (CLO) is investigating an alleged mass falsification scheme involving 32 employees of the General Services Office (GSO) at the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC).

The  suspects—composed of utility workers, clerks, and drivers—allegedly tampered their documents to qualify for Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) computer loans.

City Legal Officer Karol Joseph Chiu on Monday’s said the incident was reported to him by the GSO department head, prompting the issuance of notices to explain to all involved employees, including the assistant GSO head.

The tampering allegedly took place shortly after this city declared a state of calamity due to typhoon “Tino” on Nov. 5, which allowed employees easier access to certain loans.

According to Chiu, they allegedly altered pay slips, loan forms, and certifications of net pay to artificially increase their net pay to the required minimum of P7,000.

Some reportedly secured loans amounting to P50,000 to P60,000, he added.

The irregularities were discovered on Nov. 12 when the Management Information Technology and Computer Services (MITCS) staff noticed discrepancies in the pay slips while processing the GSO payroll.

Chiu confirmed that the assistant department head—whose name was withheld—signed the questionable documents.

In her incident report, GSO head Gilda Lluisma said she immediately requested the loan applications and pay slips from the Human Resource (HR) and verified with MITCS that the documents were indeed falsified.

Scanning the QR codes showed the employees’ actual net pay was only a little over P5,000, far below the P7,000 reflected in the altered pay slips.

Lluisma called an emergency meeting with GSO personnel involved to inform them about the offense and the possible penalties under the law or consequences they may face for falsifying these. They were directed to submit written explanations.

She noted that their applications bypassed her office and were instead signed by the assistant GSO head.

Seven employees reportedly paid P200 to have their pay slips altered outside their office, while others did it themselves or in groups, and some admitted to tampering with these.

Lluisma forwarded her findings to the CLO for appropriate action to prevent similar incidents in the future.

If guilty, the employees face administrative charges for dishonesty and misconduct, with a maximum penalty of dismissal, according to Chiu.

The CLO is currently awaiting the employees’ and the assistant GSO head’s written explanations, which must be submitted within five days before further evaluation proceeds.