MANILA, April 4 (PNA) — The Social Security System (SSS) warns the public against filing fraudulent claims following the decision of La Union Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC), Branch II to sentence an SSS claimant found guilty of falsification of public documents.
MTCC Branch II Presiding Judge Edilberta O. Casiano convicted Noel Laconsay, SSS claimant, to a maximum imprisonment of four years and nine months for purporting to be the surviving spouse and beneficiary of a deceased SSS member who turned out to be alive.
Laconsay, a resident of Gonzales, Tubao, La Union was found guilty of Falsification of Public Documents for submitting spurious documents to support his SSS Funeral and Death Claim for a certain Maura Apurado, whom he claimed as his deceased wife.
Representing himself as the widower, Laconsay personally filed claims by producing a fake funeral receipt, a falsified death certificate and true copies of the marriage certificate and birth certificate of the minor child of Maura. He also presented fake identification cards.
Laconsay’s unlawful acts were discovered by SSS under its anti-fraud program.
“The timely discovery of the spurious claim prevented us from issuing the check. But even without financial damage, we pursued the case against Mr. Laconsay. May his conviction be a strong warning we have strengthened our anti-fraud programs”, said Atty. Rogelio Atos, Cluster Legal Head of SSS Luzon North.
Aside from imprisonment, Laconsay was also ordered to pay a fine of Php 5,000 plus the cost of the suit for violation of the Social Security Act and Articles and Revised Penal Code. (PNA)