Vivian Velez, the current director-general of Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), reiterated that former director-general Leo Martinez is not entitled to receive his retirement pay from the agency.
According to an article by PEP, Martinez’s retirement pay amounts to about PHP 500,000. He worked for FAP for about 16 years that’s why he wanted to receive the pay that he deserved.
However, Velez stressed that Martinez is not entitled to receive the pay and blocked his second tranche of retirement pay. She mentioned that Martinez should formally get a letter from the Office of the President since the FAP agency is under it.
“Meron pa ngang lumabas na mga issues, nagpa-interview siya with regards to his retirement pay, hindi ko daw binibigay. Sabi kong ganun, ‘It is not up to me, kasi hindi naman ako ang magdedesisyon,'” she said.
“Sabi ko, ‘Kumuha ka [ng letter] sa Office of the President, to tell me that you are entitled for a retirement pay.’”
“Well, ang sabi sa akin ng mga legal advisors, he is not entitled for a retirement pay.
“So, yun ang sinasabi ko. Sabi ko, ‘Sumulat kayo sa Office of the President because that is beyond me.’” she added.
She continued saying that Martinez’s demand for retirement pay seems like someone just gifting themselves.
“I have not approved that kasi parang, ‘Okay, director general ako, therefore, kailangan ko ng isang milyon, ‘yan ang retirement pay ko.’
“So, sino ang magsasabi sa ‘yo na ‘yan ng retirement pay mo? Binabayaran mo yung sarili mo, you cannot do that. Hindi mo pwede gawin yun,” said Velez.
“You are under the Office of the President, then get, sabihin mo sa kanila, sabihin sa akin ng Office of the President na, ‘I have to pay this much,’ then I’ll pay you. “Wala namang problema kung may pera ang FAP,” she added.
Velez also revealed that Martinez already received PHP 500,000 right after he stepped down from his position.
“Before he left, which is on the eve of October 1, supposed to be ang pasok ko, October 31, nagpapirma siya sa board, and he was given the P500,000,” she said.
“So, naniningil pa siya sa akin ng another P500,000. E, yung P500,000 na yun, gusto ko pa ngang habulin yun, e,” she added.
When Velez was asked about Martinez’s best practices that she would like to continue, she said that there were none.
“Wala. Sorry, wala talaga. In fact, ang dami kong inaayos” she said.
Previously, Martinez’s camp has already given their statement regarding Velez’s blocking of his retirement pay. He said that he already sent a letter to the Office of the President which is addressed to Secretary Salvador Medialdea.
It was mentioned in the letter that he needed the money as he didn’t have a source of income amidst the pandemic and that he worked for FAP for a long time and brought income to the agency.
“I have had no work since the lockdown in March and have not received any income since then,” he said.
“I have served the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) for 16 years and all records will show how much our office was able to bring in millions since I sat in office,” he added.
“FAP is under the Office of The President but does not receive any subsidy or budget,” he further explained.
Martinez’s legal team, Francisco Rodrigo Jr., Tomas Guno, and Vera Shayne Salcedo of Rodrigo Berenguer & Guno Law Office, mentioned that Velez’s claim of “additional or double compensation” was not valid because Martinez is asking for retirement pay.
Leo Martinez was a director-general for FAP for 16 years and served his last day in office on October 31, 2019. Vivian Velez was then appointed to the position by President Duterte on November 5, 2019.
