Ombudsman fires millionaire Customs official

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman dismissed a Customs official working at the Port of Manila for unexplained wealth and false declarations in his Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SALN).

In 23-page decision, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales cites evidence against Chief Customs Operations Officer Rafael Mendoza Merencilla for failing to declare at least six properties in Lipa City and Batangas.

Merencilla also did not mention seven vehicles he owns, the decision said.

The Ombudsman said that Merencilla was only earning over P449,000 annually while his wife only earned P176,000, but the family's cash-on-hand climbed inexplicably from P30,000 in 1997 to P9.175 million in 2009.

The evidence also showed that Merencilla and family would travel to expensive destinations such as the United States, Japan and China.

There was also a notable increase in the official's assets from P4.48 million in 1997 to about P29.30 million  in 2009.

Declaration of his businesses interests was similarly anomalous, the Ombudsman said.

"..[A]s a public officer (he) has the duty to declare his ownership over his properties as the law requires full disclosure of all (his) assets, liabilities, and net worth," the decision stated.

The penalty of dismissal from the service carries accessory penalties of cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and perpetual disqualification for re-employment in government service.