DOF seeks graft raps vs BIR chief lawyer

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Finance (DOF), through its anti-graft unit Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS), has asked the Office of the Ombudsman to file administrative and criminal charges and preventively suspend Jose Ric Cabrera, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)’s chief legal counsel, for allegedly failing to disclose properties he acquired.

The DOF alleged that some of Cabrera’s properties were also disproportionate to his income.

In its complaint, RIPS charged Cabrera with violations of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, and RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Revised Penal Code.

“It is clear that the respondent has been less than forthright about his ownership of certain variable landholdings, real and personal properties, to the extent of deliberately failing to declare the existence thereof in his sworn statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN),” the nine-page complaint filed last Thursday reads.

According to the investigation conducted by RIPS, Cabrera did not include in his SALN for years 2000 to 2009 “two prime real properties” in Quezon City that he and his wife, Lilly Marie, own.

The properties, according to RIPS, have an estimated value of P291,600.

Furthermore, Cabrera also had “improvements” made in one of his properties estimated to have cost around P1.9 million.

In its complaint, RIPS alleged that Cabrera did not declare this in his SALN as well as a 2004 Mitsubishi Space Gear and a 2008 Honda Sedan worth about P660,000 and P370,000, respectively.

“On this score, respondent has consistently misrepresented in his SALNs from 2000 to 2003 that he has acquired only two motor vehicles (and) only one motor vehicle from 2003 to 2009,” the RIPS complaint stated.

With a gross monthly salary of only P26,203 as of June 30, 2009, Cabrera could not have acquired the properties through his legitimate means, RIPS said.

For these reasons, RIPS charged Cabrera with perjury and falsification of documents.

“The bounden duty of public officers/employees to submit, annually, a true and detailed sworn SALN is not a mere empty formality or ceremonial gesture, but rather a cornerstone to guard against the accumulation of unexplained and/or ill-gotten wealth,” the complaint stated.

RIPS was established in 2003 “to investigate (among others) allegations of corrupt practices of officials and employees of the (DOF)... and all other agencies under (its) jurisdiction... and file appropriate cases, (if necessary).”

As of July this year, the DOF said RIPS had already filed a total of 86 cases against 126 public officials, 51 of whom were suspended while 19 were already dismissed from the service.