Government files corruption charges against former BIR lawyer

MANILA, Philippines - The Aquino administration filed yesterday corruption charges against a former lawyer of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), marking its first case filed under the Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS), an anti-corruption program by the Department of Finance (DOF).

The DOF, through its Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS), yesterday filed with the Office of the Ombudsman charges against former BIR lawyer Erwin Carig Onglengco for alleged corrupt practices.

The DOF unit said the former BIR lawyer III failed to declare ownership and proprietary interests in real estate property and motor vehicles in his annual Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth during his tenure at the tax agency from 1989 to this year.

“This is DOF-RIPS’ first case filed under the new administration. We plan on filing a case against erring employees from the BIR and Bureau of Customs twice a month. Even erring treasurers will not be spared,” said Finance Undersecretary for Revenue Operations and Legal Affairs Carlo Carag. 

According to the investigation conducted by DOF-RIPs, Onglengco, who earns a monthly salary of P22,000 owned five parcels of land in Cainta, including a newly-improved two-door apartment, a 2001 Toyota and a 1999 Mazda Speed, manifesting these properties as out of proportion to his income. Also in question are some of his land properties that included several residential lots, all located at Green Park Village, San Isidro, Cainta, Rizal.

Furthermore, Carag said Onglengco resigned during the course of the investigations initiated and conducted by the DOF unit.

However, Carag said the charges against him will continue.

“That doesn’t change anything. All cases have a prescription term of up to 15 years after separation from office, whether voluntary or involuntary. So, the case still pushes through,” Carag said.

The RIPS is an anti-graft body of the Department of Finance under the leadership of Secretary Cesar Purisima, which acts as a watchdog against corrupt revenue officials. It complements the “Run After the Smugglers” (RATS) and “Run Against Tax Evaders” (RATE) programs, carried out respectively by the BIR and the BOC, both agencies under the DOF.