Ombudsman suspends Cebu Customs collector

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman ordered a collector of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Cebu suspended for allegedly becoming richer by P57.3 million within 10 years.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said Maximo Reyes, of the Port of Cebu, appeared to have unexplained wealth amounting to P89.19 million.

Investigation showed that P44.56 million of the amount covers misdeclared or undeclared assets.

With his net worth, Reyes is richer than President Aquino, who declared his wealth at P65.12 million as of December last year, and Morales herself, who only has a net worth of P43.36 million as of last year.

The Ombudsman said the order to suspend Reyes for six months without pay was issued based on charges of serious dishonesty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service. 

A tipster’s report submitted to the Ombudsman’s lifestyle check hotline about the alleged frequent travels of Reyes abroad prompted the Field Investigation Office to conduct a probe.

Aside from a P57.3-million increase in his net worth for the period of 2000 to 2010, the FIO noted that Reyes did not file his statements of assets and liabilities and net worth (SALNs) for the years 2001 and 2009.

Investigators filed criminal and administrative charges against Reyes and requested that a full preliminary investigation, administrative adjudication and forfeiture proceedings be conducted against him.