DOF files raps vs BIR official

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Finance (DOF) through its Revenue Integrity Protection Service has filed before the Office of the Ombudsman a complaint-affidavit against a ranking official of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

The DOF filed the complaint against Zenaida Chang, BIR assistant commissioner for Financial and Administrative Services. The position of the assistant commissioner is the third highest position in the agency, following the Deputy Commissioner and the Commissioner.

In its complaint, DOF-RIPs said that Chang who has been with the agency since 1974, has amassed unexplained wealth including various real estate properties and luxury vehicles. She also went on various foreign trips not financed by the agency, the DOF-RIPS also said.

The DOF unit said Chang could not have afforded such wealth given her annual salary as assistant commissioner amounting to roughly P317,000 and also because her husband Symond Chang had no fixed income.

Chang, the DOF-RIPS said, has acquired no less than nine parcels of real estate properties in Bulacan, Quezon City, and Paranaque.

“Apart from (this), it has likewise been established that – in addition to her penchant for buying-up prized chunks of real estate – respondent assistant commissioner also has a taste of acquiring expensive upscale vehicles,” the DOF- RIPS said in its complaint.

It noted that Chang has at least five vehicles such as an L-300, Mercedes Benz van, Mitsubishi Pajero, Toyota Altis Sedan and a Toyota Revo.

However, sought for comment, Chang said the vehicles belonged to her cousin who could not get approvals for car loans.

Chang also said her husband used to work with the Lucio Tan Group of companies, contrary to what was stated in the DOF’s complaint that her husband does not have a fixed income.

She described the DOF-RIPS as unfair but said she was willing to sit down and appeal the matter with the authorities.

“I can explain everything,” Chang said, adding that the complaint-affidavit is riddled with errors.

She said she is not a BIR examiner nor is she involved in tax assessments which could have made her vulnerable to corruption.

The DOF unit asked the Office of the Ombudsman to file the appropriate criminal and administration charges against the respondent and to order the forfeiture of Chang’s properties.

RIPS is mandated to conduct lifestyle checks, investigate allegations of graft and corruption and to file criminal and administrative complaints against erring officials and employees of the DOF the Bureau of Customs and the BIR.