SALN violators in BIR, BOC face raps

MANILA, Philippines - The anti-corruption unit of the Department of Finance (DOF) yesterday filed with the Office of the Ombudsman complaints against officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for allegedly fabricating details in their respective statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) and failing lifestyle checks.

The Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) filed the complaints against Alejandro Polca, Chief Revenue Officer IV of the BIR, and Eva Reyes, Administrative Officer III of the BOC.

In a statement, RIPS said that the two respondents face preventive suspension and dismissal from government service if found guilty of the charges.

In its complaint, RIPS said that Polca failed to include in his SALN several real estate properties in Pasig and Ilocos.

Polca said the properties belong to his children. But according to the investigation conducted by RIPs, his children have no ”visible means of income” to purchase land assets.

Furthermore, RIPS said Polca did not declare in his SALN a number of vehicles that were registered under his name.

Polca also made several trips abroad from 2006 to 2010, which were not sanctioned by the DOF.

Reyes, meanwhile, also allegedly falsified her SALN. RIPS said that the Customs official did not report four real estate properties in Batangas City and Lipa in her SALNs.

RIPS raised doubts on how Reyes could afford to purchase real estate properties when she only earns some P29,000 a month.

“Other than her salary from employment, respondent has no other legitimate source of income which would justify her acquisition of her real estate properties,” RIPS said.

Furthermore, RIPS said that Reyes traveled in 2010 without the property travel authority from the DOF.

RIPS is the anti-graft arm of the DOF, which was created in 2003. It is mandated to investigate and prevent graft and corrupt practices among officials and employees of the Finance department as well as attached agencies.

It has so far filed 105 graft cases against 146 individuals, 60 of whom have been suspended and 21 dismissed from government service.

Meanwhile, Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon said he is pleased that there are ongoing lifestyle checks that are being conducted on bureau employees to ensure that their properties are properly accounted for.

Biazon admitted that he has not yet seen the report and declined to comment on the fate of Reyes.

However, he said he was glad that the case was made known to the public and that lifestyle checks are being conducted on BOC personnel. – Evelyn Macairan