Ombudsman sacks Customs official for dishonesty

Manila, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman, acting on the complaint filed by the Department of Finance (DOF) Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPs) has ordered the dismissal of a Customs official for dishonesty.

On April 8, 2011, the Ombudsman issued a joint decision against Victor Cernia Barros who held the position of special agent II at the Bureau of Customs, Port of Manila.

He joined the agency as Customs marine engineer in 1981. During his employment at the agency from 1991 to present, the highest annual salary he received was P125,304.

The investigations conducted by DOF-RIPs revealed that Barros had amassed wealth grossly disproportionate to his lawful means of income.

“Additionally, he failed to submit his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) and had deliberately concealed valuable properties,” the DOF said in its statement.

In its complaint filed with the Ombudsman in 2007, DOF-RIPs alleged that Barros had failed to file his SALN for the years 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2005.

“However, having been aware of an ongoing investigation against him, he belatedly submitted on June 15, 2006, his SALNs for the years 1981, 1988, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004. Furthermore, he invoked Section 10 of R.A. No. 6713 to justify his failure to submit these statements and attested that there is a mandate to call his attention prior to any action to be taken against him as a result of any defect in the said SALNs,” the DOF said.

In its complaint, the DOF-RIPs said that within a period of 13 years, he was able to amass wealth illegally.

The anti-corruption agency said that from 1992 to 2005, Barros had an income of P1,118,652.

“Nevertheless, within this period, his net worth has increased to P5,090,000,” the DOF-RIPs said.

Assistant Secretary Peter Calimag of the Revenue Operations and Legal Affairs Group of the Finance department reminded public officials to live simply and to not accumulate wealth beyond their legitimate means of income.

“Public officials and employees and their families shall lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income. They shall not indulge in extravagant or ostentatious display of wealth in any form,” Calimag said.