BOC exec axed over ill-gotten wealth

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal from government service of an official of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) assigned at the Port of Manila for making false declarations in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).

In a 23-page decision released yesterday, the anti-graft agency said it found substantial evidence to hold Chief Customs Operations Officer Rafael Mendoza Merencilla administratively liable.

The ombudsman found that Merencilla earned only P449,676 annually while his wife, also a BOC employee, earned P176,184 per year but the official failed to declare at least six properties located in Lipa City and Las Piñas, with the property in Lipa measuring at least 18,535 square meters.

Merencilla also failed to declare seven vehicles and from 1997 to 2009, his cash-on-hand increased from P30,000 in 1997 to P9,145,493.04 in 2009.

Based on records submitted by the Bureau of Immigration, the Merencilla family also made several trips to the United States, Tokyo and Bangkok.

The ombudsman also found that there was an increase in Merencilla’s total assets from P4,480,000 in 1997 to P29,301,380.64 in 2009.

The agency also noted that there were discrepancies in the disclosure of Merencilla’s business interests.

“As a public officer, he has the duty to declare his ownership over his properties as the law requires full disclosure of all (his) assets, liabilities, and net worth,” the ombudsman declared.

The anti-graft agency also cancelled his civil service eligibility and retirement benefits and barred him from re-entering government service.