Ombudsman orders suspension of BIR, Customs officials

MANILA, Philippines - A unit of the Department of Finance (DOF) has moved a step closer in winning its fight against erring government officials after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the six-month suspension of two public officials.

The orders stemmed from separate investigations conducted by the Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) of the DOF.

RIPS investigates allegations of corruption in the department and its attached agencies such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Bureau of Local Government Finance, Bureau of Treasury, Central Board of Assessment Appeals, the Insurance Commission, the National Tax Research Center, the Fiscal Incentives Review Board and the Privatization and Management Office.

The DOF unit charged Myrna Ramirez, Revenue Officer III of the BIR for dishonesty and grave misconduct and Marlina Osmillo Operations Officer V of the BOC for violating the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

Based on the complaint filed by RIPS in 2008, Ramirez had steadily amassed wealth upon joining the BIR as a mere casual employee in 1978, until her current position as Revenue Officer III in 2001.

Throughout her tenure, Ramirez was able to acquire various real properties in Quezon City, Caloocan, Nueva Ecija and Gen. Trias, Cavite; as well as several vehicles.

Ramirez also failed to disclose in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) various other properties including one of her motor vehicles, an apartment in Balintawak, Quezon City, and her business and other financial interests.

Osmillo, meanwhile, allegedly made false, incomplete and misleading statements in her SALNs, with the same goal of concealing her amassed wealth from public attention and scrutiny.

The complaint filed by RIPS in October 2006, showed that apart from Osmillo’s numerous assets, she had purchased real properties in Antipolo and Quezon City which she has also consistently failed to state in her SALNs.

According to DOF-RIPs, if the charges filed against Ramirez and Osmillio are proven true, they would be permanently removed from government service.