Neri appointment spoils summer fun in the Netherlands

Neri appointment spoils summer fun in the Netherlands

By LOUI GALICIA
ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

Filipinos in the Netherlands have advised the new chief of the Social Security System (SSS) to take extra care in handling their hard-earned contributions.

"Huwag niyang isipin na lulustayin na walang kakwenta-kwenta...Hihikayat ako ng mas marami pang miyembro na nagbabayad ng SSS na sagupain yang Neri na yan," SSS member Eddie Aquino said during a recent picnic gathering with other Filipinos.

Neri took on the hot seat as head of the SSS on August 1. Yet, two weeks later, Dutch Pinoys are still fuming mad.

They are inflamed by the fact that Neri will handle the billions and billions of funds that come from their pockets as Pinoy contributors to the private pension fund.

They claim that Neri cannot be trusted because of his involvement in the ZTE-national broadband network deal.

Pinoys fear that when the time comes to collect their pensions, there won’t be any money because the funds had already been used by Arroyo administration.

They feel that with Neri in charge, there’s no stopping the Arroyo administration from plundering their SSS money.

Aquino is one of the 25 million members of SSS. He is among several millions of SSS members abroad who want to retire in the Philippines.

"Gusto ko secured ako. Secured ako sa Pilipinas pag-uwi ko. Meron akong gagastusin. Meron akong pera na matatanggap buwan-buwan," Aquino said.

Meanwhile, there are former SSS members who said they have lost their trust in the pension fund and the present government.

"Pumunta ako ng Pilipinas dahil idadagdag ko 'yung anak ko sa beneficiary ko. Me nagbabayad dun sa SSS ko. How long na wala ako sa Pilipinas? More than 20 years pero me nagbabayad," said Vener Velasquez.

"It’s a fraud. Fraud 'yun. Maliwanag na maliwanag me nagloloko roon eh," Velasquez added.
Velasquez, who has lived both in the United States and the Netherlands as an immigrant, is one global Pinoy who rejects the idea of retiring in the Philippines.

"Wala nang pera ang Pilipinas eh. Pa'no ka pa magpa-papension ng tao?" Velasquez asked.

SOURCE: WWW.ABS-CBNNEWS.COM

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