Ex-Customs official charged with graft

MANILA, Philippines – A former Customs police official faces criminal and administrative charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for failing the government’s lifestyle check.

Chief Inspector Isabelo Tibayan is now detailed at the office of presidential adviser for revenue enhancement Narciso Santiago Jr.

In a 16-page complaint, the Revenue Integrity Protection Service of the Department of Finance (DOF-RIPS) accused Tibayan, former intelligence and operations chief of Customs Enforcement and Security Service, of violating of Republic Act 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), perjury and falsification of public documents.

He was also charged administratively for violating Republic Act 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees).

The DOF-RIPS sought the dismissal from government service of Tibayan, filing of criminal case against him before the Sandiganbayan and forfeiture of his properties in favor of the government as provided under Republic Act 1317.

The Office of the Ombudsman was also asked to place the respondent under preventive suspension while he is being investigated.

Investigation of the DOF-RIPS showed that the personal income of Tibayan grew 25 times in the last 19 years of his government service.

Intelligence officers Troy Francis Pizarro, Reynaldo Uson, Reynalito Lazaro and Melchor Piol discovered some questionable real properties and several luxury vehicles.

It was found that Tibayan owns a house and lot in Parañaque, a lot and a condominium in Muntinlupa and four agricultural lands in Lemery, Batangas.

His real properties amount to P13,684,105, according to graft investigators.

Tibayan’s vehicles include a Mitsubishi Safari, three Ford Expedition vehicles, two Honda cars and a Mitsubishi L300 vehicle.

“Such astronomical growth in respondent’s personal wealth – a 25-fold increase over a 19-year period or, roughly, increments exceeding a hundred percent per year – cannot be justified and/or explained by respondent’s salary from the BOC, which at best, is only P142,044 per annum, before taxes, as confirmed by his Service Record,” read the complaint.

The perjury and falsification charges against Tibayan pertained to his alleged manipulation of his Statements of Assets Liabilities and Networth.

“The aforesaid pattern of falsification, perjury and sundry deceits committed by respondent in relation to his SALNs – themselves substantive criminal offenses – are but necessarily corollaries to his main pursuit and preoccupation, through the years, of accumulating unexplained wealth grossly disproportionate to his means during his tenure with the BOC,” read the complaint.