2 BOC collectors face charges

MANILA, Philippines - Two employees of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) face administrative and criminal charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly falsifying their statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) over the past several years.

The Department of Finance (DOF) charged Collector of Customs IV Jose Cajigal Tabanda of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service, and Collector of Customs V Romalino Gabiel Valdez, acting deputy collector for administration at Clark International Airport. Tabanda and Valdez may face possible preventive suspension pending preliminary investigation.

In separate investigations, the DOF’s Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) found that Tabanda only declared two real properties in his SALNs from 2000 to 2010 and failed to indicate their acquisition costs in violation of Republic Act 6713.

Tabanda also failed to declare a residential property in Quezon City registered under the name of his wife, Suzette Tabanda. 

The property is described in the tax declarations and corresponding Transfer Certificate of Titles to be a two-story residential building measuring 400 square meters.

Tabanda also did not  disclose in his SALN his wife’s business, TC Medical Laboratory in Mandaluyong.  

Tabanda also failed to declare a Mazda pick-up vehicle that he acquired on Sept. 12, 2000.

The RIPS also accused Tabanda of falsifying his personal data sheet when he indicated that he earned a Bachelor of Laws from the University of the East in 1984 and passed the Bar in 1985.

A master’s degree is the minimum educational requirement for the position of Tabanda, according to the RIPS.

An inquiry from the Office of the Bar Confidant at the Supreme Court showed that Tabanda is not a member of the Philippine Bar.

Valdez was found to have lumped declarations of his real properties in his SALNs from 2003 to 2011.

The RIPS said Valdez owns a range of properties as far north as Baguio City, and as far south as Davao City.

Documents from the Land Transportation Office showed that Valdez owns a Mercedes-Benz 100 van, a Mitsubishi L300 C-Chassis utility vehicle, a Vespa scooter, a Toyota Camry 4-door sedan, a Honda XRM 125 motorcycle, while his wife owns a Honda CRV sport utility vehicle, a Nissan Sentra 4-door sedan, and a Toyota Dropside utility vehicle.

Valdez was also found to have allegedly filed incomplete and misleading information regarding his properties and business interests, their actual costs as well as the amounts of his liabilities.

The RIPS said Valdez declared in his SALNs that he has real properties in Makati, Batangas, Bulacan, Laguna, Quezon City, Baguio, Davao City, Pasig City, Cavite, and Nueva Ecija.