Graft raps filed vs Customs exec

In line with the government’s continuing drive against corruption, the Department of Finance (DOF) filed graft charges against another official of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) with the Office of the Ombudsman.

Charged by the DOF’s Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) was Prudencio Macaranas, Customs operations officer of the Port of Manila.

Investigation conducted by the DOF-RIPS showed that Macaranas violated the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines and the Revised Penal Code by "having committed acts that were illegal, unjust, improper, irregular and immoral."

The DOF also requested the Ombudsman to start forfeiture proceedings on all properties illegally acquired by the BOC official and his family. The Ombudsman was also requested to order his immediate suspension.

Initial investigation and a lifestyle check conducted by the DOF-RIPS showed that Macaranas acquired substantial properties which were grossly disproportionate to his income as a government official.

He was found to own a multi-million property in Alabang, Muntinlupa; a house and lot and a condominium unit in Parañaque; a condominium unit in Wack-Wack, Mandaluyong; a lot in Baguio City and several other real estate properties in Naic, Cavite and at the Mango Orchard.

He supposedly acquired the properties while earning a gross annual salary of only P218,928.

Investigation also showed that Macaranas and his wife own additional properties not declared in his Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SAL). These include two houses at Multinational Village in Parañaque; two residential lots in Pangasinan and another lot in Cavite.

Further investigation showed that Macaranas also owns a fleet of vehicles, including a Volvo sedan, a Nissan Patrol, a Honda CRV, a Toyota RAV 4, a Mitsubishi Pajero and a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.

Records at the Land Transportation Office showed that Macaranas and his wife also own a Toyota Crown sedan, a Toyota Prado and a Hyundai Starex.

RIPS also learned that Macaranas also failed to file his statement of assets and liabilities for years 1990, 1996 and 1998.

Macaranas likewise failed to disclose substantial other properties in his SAL, including his residence at Bayview Garden Homes in Parañaque,

The property, he claimed, was acquired for P3.3 million.

The DOF later found out that the Macaranas couple had actually bought the house for P4.2 million.

Meanwhile, RIPS also learned that from 1994 to 2003, Macaranas went abroad at least 10 times, but only obtained two requisite authorities for these trips.

This, the DOF said, was in violation of Executive Order 6 which requires government officials traveling abroad, to obtain the needed authorization from their respective department or agency heads.

"Failure to explain the necessity or propriety of these travels abroad raises doubts as to how he acquired the money for said travels," RIPS said.

In addition, RIPS also accused Macaranas of violating the Code of Conduct and Ethics for Public Officials and Employees by maintaining a substantial share of capital stock in Steadfast Air-Sea International Inc., a Customs brokerage firm. According to RIPS, Macaranas holds the position of vice president in the brokerage firm.

"There is a conflict of interest in the positions simultaneously held by Macaranas in the BOC and at Steadfast. As a brokerage firm, Steadfast would be representing importers and conducting its business before the BOC while Macaranas, being a Customs operations officer, is in charge of the proper assessment and appraisal of imported goods and articles," RIPS said in a statement.

According to RIPS, the wealth acquired by Macaranas cannot be justified by his legitimate source of income and involvement in Steadfast and with the Eight DC trucking company.

"The inability of these business to finance Macaranas’ acquisition of properties, his up-to-date collection of vehicles and frequent trips is confirmed by the fact that Steadfast was incurring losses in its operations for 1999 and 2000 and that Eight DC had no operations up to the first quarter of 2002 and had no substantial earnings by the end of that year," RIPS said.