DOF unit gets good results on BOC, BIR cases
MANILA, Philippines - The Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) of the Department of Finance has obtained favorable decisions from the Office of the Ombudsman on two cases filed against employees of the Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue.
In separate resolutions, the Ombudsman ordered the trial of customs examiner Dionisito Valles for “probable violation of Republic Act (RA) 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.”
Another decision ordered the three-month suspension of revenue officer Myrna Ramirez without pay for simple dishonesty.
In the case involving Valles, the Ombudsman ordered that he be tried for graft at the Manila Regional Trial Court. The case goes as far back as 2006 when Valles allegedly failed to examine a shipment by Quezon City-based Danvill Forwarders.
“The subject shipment, which entered the Port of Manila in Dec. 7, 2006, was misdeclared to contain 960 packages of used vehicle replacement parts but actually bared six units of used motorcycles, 179 used tires, four high bean suspensions, and a used Suzuki chassis, among others,” RIPS said.
In its resolution, the Office of the Ombudsman said: “For not conducting physical examination of the cargo, despite the need to do so, this office finds probable cause against respondent Valles for violation of Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019.”
Defending his actions, Valles said he did not examine the cargo because he was harassed by “burly men” inside the BOC office.
In the case of BIR’s Ramirez, the Ombudsman ordered a three-month suspension for failing to declare her business interest and a car under her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).
“The records show that respondent failed to declared the ‘Ramirez Purified Drinking Water’ as well as the ownership of a Mitsubishi L300 in her 2003, 2004 and 2005 SALN, which is violative of Section 8 of RA 6713,” the decision stated.
RIPS cited Section 8 of RA 6713 or the Code of Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees which mandates the disclosure of all “assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests” of all government employees and officials every year.
In its resolution, the Ombudsman said Ramirez declared being a partner of her brother, Agripino, in the drinking water business but only began declaring her financial connections to it from 2006 and not from 2003 to 2005.
RIPS is the anti-corruption unit of the Finance Department mandated to investigate and file cases against suspected corrupt revenue official and employees.
The unit has so far filed 89 cases against 130 individuals, 55 of whom were already suspended, while 20 were dismissed from service.
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