EDITORIAL - Unexplained wealth

By today Paulino Elevado could be declared AWOL by the Bureau of Customs. Elevado has not reported for work since Jan. 30 after footage from a closed circuit television camera showed him and his companion, identified as businessman Florencio Bato, beating up a student during a traffic altercation on the South Luzon Expressway on Jan. 21. When Elevado went back to his car, the student drove away in his Innova with his companion, but the Customs employee gave chase and reportedly fired at the van four times.

On the victims’ complaint, police arrested Elevado and Bato in Pasay, confiscated a .40 caliber gun and put them behind bars. The two were freed after two days but face charges of physical injuries and attempted murder.

As interesting as the arrogance manifested in that violent attack is the car Elevado was driving: a Porsche. Perhaps he has other legitimate sources of income. As a clerk earning less than P10,000 a month at Customs, however, his use of the luxury sports car has reinforced public perceptions of the bureau as one of the most corrupt government agencies. A common question arising from the case is that if a Customs clerk can afford to tool around in a Porsche, how much are the higher-ups making? And how many more employees like Elevado are there at the Bureau of Customs?

Reports said Elevado has been working at Customs for 10 years. He seems to have a taste for luxury cars and is said to be engaged in the used-car business. In his 2004 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth, he declared his purchase of a 1995 Volvo.

The Bureau of Customs has had two chiefs in less than two years, as the President tries to clean up an agency that is perceived to be among the dirtiest. The story of Elevado indicates the amount of housecleaning that still needs to be done.