DOF-RIPS files charge vs BOC official

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Finance’s anti-corruption unit has filed a complaint against an official of the Bureau of Customs for allegedly falsifying his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

According to the Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS), Manuel Relorcasa, supervising customs operations officer, is facing criminal and administrative indictments for providing allegedly fabricated and misleading details in his SALN.

In its complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman on April 19, 2012, RIPS said Relorcasa declared in his 2000 to 2010 SALNs that he owned a house and lot in Albay Province, which he supposedly acquired in 1980.

However, RIPS said that based on its investigation, the property was already transferred to the Home Development Mutual Fund since July 2, 1999.

RIPS executive director Romeo Tomas said that some government officials falsify their SALNs by putting properties that they do not own to make it appear that these were acquired way before they joined government service.

RIPS also alleged that Relorcasa claimed to own other real estate properties in Antipolo, Rizal, Baras, Rizal and Libon, Albay.

Verification by RIPS with the Assessor’s Office of the respective jurisdictions however, revealed that there were no real properties registered under Relorcasa’s name, contrary to his claims of ownership.

RIPS said that because of Relorcasa’s false declaration, he may be placed under preventive suspension without pay pending investigation of the administrative and criminal cases against him.

RIPS has so far initiated 108 graft and lifestyle cases against 149 personalities and successfully secured 61 suspensions from office and 21 dismissals from service.