DOF files complaint vs ex-Customs employee for ill-gotten wealth

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Finance on Monday filed before the Office of the Ombudsman a complaint-affidavit against a former employee of the Bureau of Customs for allegedly amassing ill-gotten wealth.

The Finance department’s Revenue Integrity Protection Service filed the complaint against Mitchell Verdeflor, an intelligence officer of the BOC following a lifestyle check and investigation on his assets and properties.

The DOF-RIPS said in its complaint that Verdeflor, who has been with the BOC since 1990, has acquired prime real estate holdings worth at least P5 million despite an annual salary of roughly P156,000 or a monthly paycheck of P13,000. DOF-RIPS said Verdeflor also amassed high-powered rifles and pistols.

Further, DOF-RIPS said the respondent had concealed in his 2007 Statement of Assets Liabilities and net worth at least three luxury vehicles valued at no less than P3 million.

“With respondent earning a modest salary as Customs personnel, his substantial property ownership is, without doubt, manifestly out of proportion to his lawful income. These indications of wealth do not even include family expenditures and tuition of children which, judging by the latter’s standard of living, could not be less than substantial,” the DOF-RIPS said in its complaint.

The DOF asked the Office of the Ombudsman to file the appropriate criminal and administration charges against the respondent.

RIPS is mandated to conduct lifestyle checks, investigate allegations of graft and corruption and to file criminal and administrative complaints against erring officials and employees of the Finance department, the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the BOC.

The DOF unit has been filing charges against erring officials of the BOC and the BIR as part of the government’s efforts to curb corruption.

The national government has blamed corruption and tax evasion for its low tax take. Despite efforts to address rampant corruption, the BIR and the BOC are still perceived to be the most corrupt agencies in government.