Biazon to work with PNP to probe Porsche-riding BOC clerk

MANILA, Philippines - Bureau of Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon said yesterday he will coordinate with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and get a status report on the criminal case against a BOC clerk who reportedly drove a Porsche and tried to gun down two students during a traffic altercation last Jan. 21.

“We will take the initiative” to communicate with the PNP officials in charge of investigating and filing charges against Paulino Elevado, Biazon said.

He said he is getting irritated that the public has been hounding the BOC, asking what the bureau has done, but no follow-up with the PNP has been made. The Department of Finance (DOF) is conducting a lifestyle check on Elevado, Biazon said.

He said the BOC can only file administrative cases against Elevado, for which the most severe penalty is dismissal from service, while criminal charges can result in imprisonment.

“All eyes are on the BOC, but they have forgotten about the criminal case, that other agencies also have responsibilities on this matter,” Biazon said.

He noted that when the incident happened, Elevado “was not in the performance of his duty. It was during his private time.”

Biazon earlier ordered Elevado to report for work by Tuesday or else be declared absent without leave and be officially dismissed from service. Elevado has been absent since Jan. 30.

While an initial inquiry showed that the Porsche was registered to another owner, Biazon said if the DOF find that Elevado owns the Porsche, it would raise more questions since he earns a monthly salary of less than P10,000.

Elevado has been working at the BOC for about 10 years. In his 2004 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), Elevado declared he bought a 1995 Volvo, according to ABS-CBN.

In his 2011 SALN, Elevado said his net worth was P1.1 million and declared a buy-and-sell car business.

Footage from a surveillance camera on Jan. 21 showed Elevado’s sports car speeding on the southbound lane of South Luzon Expressway as it chased a Toyota Innova being driven by a 20-year-old student.

The student, who refused to be identified, swerved to the service road heading to Villamor Air Base to escape from Elevado, who caught up with the student and his passenger.

Elevado and his companion, businessman Florencio Bato, allegedly beat up the student and his friend. When he went to get his firearm, the student and his friend sped away.

The student told police Elevado shot at his Innova four times during the chase. Bullet holes were found in the Innova’s rear. Police officers caught Elevado and Bato near a hotel in Pasay and confiscated a .40 caliber firearm from them. They were jailed for two days before being released prior to the preliminary investigation.

The two men face charges of physical injuries and attempted murder.