BOC executive denies extortion charge

MANILA, Philippines - Complaining that the Office of the Ombudsman did not even give her a chance to air her side, a Customs official assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) denied yesterday extorting money from a passenger in 2005.

Ethelia Bernas, a flight supervisor at the time of the reported incident, wherein she allegedly allowed one Melinda Mendoza to illegally bring some P80,000 worth of jewelry to Canada, said she is innocent of the accusations.

In an interview with The STAR, she said the Pasay City prosecutor’s office dismissed the case filed against her by the same person in July 2005, which is why she is surprised why the Office of the Ombudsman is now recommending that she be charged again.

“Why didn’t the Ombudsman get our side? I never received a subpoena from the Ombudsman,” Bernas said.

She said she told Mendoza that the jewelry will have to be seized because of the volume of the items, which still even had tags. Bernas said Mendoza told her the jewelry belonged to her grandmother, who was waiting outside.

“Mendoza was allowed to go and return the jewelry to her grandmother. No bribery happened,” she said, adding that the passenger even signed a logbook.

Bernas said the case filed by Mendoza was dismissed because “the prosecutor believed we were just doing our jobs.”

Reacting to Bernas’ claim that she was not even given a chance to defend herself, Assistant Ombudsman and spokesperson Jose de Jesus Jr. explained that the anti-graft agency actually merely reviewed the decision of the 2nd Assistant City Prosecutor Manuel Gloton dismissing the case.

He said that in a review resolution, the Office of the Ombudsman decides based on the preliminary investigation already conducted by the prosecutor’s office.

“She can file a motion for reconsideration upon receipt if she believes that the review resolution is not correct,” De Jesus said.