Customs police chief dismissed for falsifying SALN

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman recently dismissed from the service Customs police chief Jose Brigido Yuchongco for grave misconduct and dishonesty.

The Ombudsman found Yuchongco guilty of falsifying his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) by failing to declare or wrongfully declaring several real estate properties and lotto winnings.

The Revenue Integrity Protection Service of the Department of Finance, represented by Oscar Moratin, Virman Sayang-od, William Ached, Joselito Fernandez, and Ismael Leonor, filed two separate complaints against Yuchongco. They filed an administrative complaint against him for grave misconduct and dishonesty; and a criminal complaint for violation of RA 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) and RA 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).

The decision of the Ombudsman on the administrative case dismissing Yuchongco from service was promulgated on Feb. 7, and was signed by Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Mark Jalandoni. The dismissal was immediately executory.

The Ombudsman found that Yuchongco failed to declare the following properties in his SALN during various years from 1994 to 2004: A multi-million peso mansion and lot at Hillsborough Subdivision in Muntinlupa City; a 7,120-square meter agricultural land in Oas, Albay; a house and lot in San Jose, Batangas; a 32,593-square meter farmland also in San Jose, Batangas; the P1.8 million proceeds from the sale of his house and lot in Parañaque; and lotto winnings amounting to P3.3 million that he won in 1996.

According to the Ombudsman, Yuchongco “lied in [his] SALN, but more, the falsities were repeatedly made.” In falsifying his SALN, Yuchongco was guilty of violating RA 6713, or The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. The law mandates government employees to accomplish and submit declarations under oath of their assets, liabilities, net worth, and financial and business interests, including those of their spouses and unmarried children under 18 years of age living in their households.

In its Resolution on the criminal complaint, the Ombudsman also ordered the filing of criminal charges against Yuchongco for two counts of violation of R.A. 6713, and eight counts of Falsification of Public Documents under the Revised Penal Code, all in connection with the non-declaration and fraudulent declarations of properties he owns in his SALNs.