NAIA Customs exec ordered dismissed

The Office of the Ombudsman ordered yesterday the dismissal of a Customs official assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after she was found to have acquired unexplained wealth.

In a statement, Assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni said Chief Customs Operations Officer Matilde Millare was dismissed following a graft complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman by the Revenue Integrity Protection Service of the Department of Finance (DOF-RIPS).

Jalandoni said the Office of the Ombudsman also found "substantial evidence of grave misconduct and dishonesty" against Millare’s sister, former Customs Operations Officer 5 Ana Marie Concepcion-Maglasang. However, Maglasang had already resigned from the Bureau of Customs (BOC) when the Office of the Ombudsman ordered her dismissal, said Jalandoni.

At the same time, the Office of the Ombudsman also filed criminal charges against Millare and Maglasang before the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court.

Jalandoni said the Office of the Ombudsman filed eight counts of violation of Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Government Officials and Employees) and five counts of perjury under Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code against Millare. It also filed a petition for forfeiture of unlawfully acquired properties against her and her husband Joel in court.

Records show that Millare started working at the BOC in September 1989 with an annual salary of P6,240. Her current annual gross salary is P249,876 or P20,823 per month.

Despite her income, the Office of the Ombudsman said Millare managed to acquire, from 1978 to 2004, a house and lot in Cubao, Quezon City; vast landholdings in Zambales and Sorsogon; and a posh residence in Valle Verde.