Former Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary and Alternergy founder Vince Perez assured the public that their investments with the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Alternergy are safe, amid allegations surrounding the irregularities in the P1.44 billion-worth of investment.
In an exclusive interview with DZRH’s Dos Por Dos on Tuesday, July 22, Perez clarified that their company complied with regulations, adding that they have paid P118 million in dividends last December.
According to Perez, a financial adviser introduced him to GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo “Wick” Veloso. Following their introduction, Perez said that GSIS bought P1.45 billion in preferred shares from their company. It had a dividend of around 8% of its net.
“‘Yung mga miyembro ng GSIS nagbayad na kami ng P120 million na dibidendo ‘nong nakaraang Disyembre para sa December bonus ng GSIS. ‘Yung P1.45 [billion], pagkatapos ng pitong taon niyan, [yung pera niyan] babalik pa rin sa GSIS,” Perez said.
“Pagbalik, higit na P2.2 billion ang kikitain ng GSIS,” he added.
The Board’s Approval
The Office of the Ombudsman placed Veloso under preventive suspension for six months earlier this week, after finding sufficient grounds to initiate a formal investigation against the latter and seven others.
The issue stemmed from an anonymous complaint, citing the irregularities in the P1.4 billion investment in Alternergy. According to reports, GSIS had purchased 100 million preferred shares in Alternergy in 2023. However, the investigation found that the investment did not go through the GSIS Board.
Perez mentioned that they complied with regulations and followed the rules of the Philippine Stock Exchange. In addition, he said that GSIS presidents had the authority to invest without needing the board’s approval.
“Matagal na tong sa GSIS bago pa si GM Wick Veloso ang presidente, mayroon siyang sariling kumbaga awtoridad na mag-invest sa mga investment na hindi kailangan ng board approval,” he explained. “Matagal na ho ‘yan. Bago siya [Veloso] pumasok sa GSIS nandyan na po yung kanilang patakaran sa loob ng GSIS.”
He also assured that they have a capital that exceeds P1.5 billion, stating that apart from the GSIS investment, they earned around P8 billion from their project at Tanay, Rizal, and P4 billion from Alabat, Quezon.
When asked whether the company was affected by what happened, Perez responded, “Kailangan namin linisin at klaruhin yung istorya. Mukhang magpapasalamat kami sa aming mga investors, sa aming mga bankers na tuloy pa rin ang tiwala sa amin. Ang importante talaga ay lahat ng ginawa naming proyekto, [ay] matupad, matayo, at…sa Disyembre, matatapos na yung aming wind project sa Quezon Province.”
A Message to the Public
“Ang aking pangako sa mga miyembro ng GSIS, ako bilang dating miyembro din ng gobyerno, itong kanilang investment ng GSIS Alternergy ay protektado. Kami po ay nagbibigay, hindi lang sa papel, at nagbayad na kami ng dibidendo nung Disyembre ng P118 milion,” Perez said.
As a former banker, Perez assured the public that their investments would remain safe and protected.
“Sa apat na taon kikita ang GSIS ng higit na P800 million at ibabalik din yung P1.45 billion sa inyo. Pagkatapos ng pitong taon, makakatanggap kayo ng mahigit P2.2 billion na pondo. Huwag kayong mag-alala, lahat ng ginawa po namin dumaan sa butas ng karayom,” he stated.
