MANILA -- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has fired 4 employees for absenteeism.

The BSP said the employees, who worked with 2 former Monetary Board members, were also punished for serious dishonesty and grave misconduct. This came after the BSP's probe into alleged "ghost employees" in the agency.

In a statement, the BSP said the Monetary Board approved last July the dismissal of the four employees, which includes the cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, and a bar from taking civil service examinations.  

"The cases of two other employees involved in their supervisory capacity are still in progress as the findings were contested and presentation of evidence is ongoing," the BSP said. 

A decision on their cases is expected to be reached around the first quarter of next year, the central bank added.

"All offices/departments, including the Offices of Monetary Board members, have been reminded to strictly enforce attendance controls," the BSP said.

Last May, the BSP started administrative disciplinary proceedings against the employees who appeared to have falsified attendance records.

BSP conducts probe after reports of 'ghost employees'

This came after reports by business website Bilyonaryo claimed that two BSP officials had hired "ghost employees" who do not really work at the central bank, but receive salaries and benefits from the BSP.

BSP says 5 of 6 staffers in ‘ghost employees’ scandal resigned but cases proceed