BIR exec sacked for amassed wealth

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of a ranking official of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for unexplained wealth.

In an 11-page decision by the ombudsman, Zenaida Chang, assistant commissioner of financial and administrative services in charge of BIR’s budget and procurement, was found guilty of serious dishonesty and gross neglect of duty, giving a boost to the Department of Finance-Revenue Integrity Protection Service (DOF-RIPS)’s efforts to root out corruption.

Chang was found to have acquired significant and substantial properties and assets consisting of three houses and lots in Felville Subdivision, three lots in Goldridge Estate, two lots in Felville Subdivision, two lots in New Intramuros, two Pajeros, a Mercedes-Benz MB-100, Mitsubishi L-300, a Toyota Revo and Toyota Altis.

The ombudsman’s office, however, pointed out that the total annual net income of Chang and her husband in 2009 was P933,874.

“Construing spouses Chang’s acquisitions vis-à-vis their legitimate fixed incomes as of 1997, there is reason to believe that respondent Chang has consistently under declared her and her husband’s true net worth to conceal their real wealth and hide the dubious nature of the undeclared sources of their disposable funds,” the decision read.

“The loans obtained by the spouses Chang from various creditors are presented as defense to the charge of unlawful wealth acquisitions. Such defense would have been tenable if the couple’s net worth remained unchanged as the increase in assets would have been offset by the debts payable. The defense of respondent’s availment of ‘pay-when-able’ from liberal personal creditors is a matter too tenuous to believe, considering their consistent spike in net worth despite the presence of these supposed personal loans,” the ombudsman added.

Chang started with the BIR in 1987 as a revenue document processor with a salary of P18,636 per annum. Prior to her transfer to the BIR, she held the position of chief accountant at the professional regulation commission in 1974.

Aside from dismissal from service, the ombudsman also issued a joint resolution recommending the filing of eight counts of perjury against Chang for falsely declaring her yearly net worth in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth for the period 2000 to 2007.