Ombudsman orders BOC executive sacked for extortion

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of a ranking Bureau of Customs (BOC) official who tried to extort money from the owner of a trucking firm.

In a 17-page ruling, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez approved the dismissal of Domingo Leguiab, BOC acting assistant law division chief at the Manila International Container Port, after finding him guilty of dishonesty.

The decision was based on the findings of Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer II Francisca Maullon-Serfino.

Gutierrez ordered BOC Commissioner Napoleon Morales to implement the ruling and submit a compliance report afterwards, noting that the complainant was able to present substantial evidence against Leguiab.

In his complaint, Mamerto Guansing, owner of Mazen Trucking, said on Oct. 19, 2001, eight of his trucks were hired to haul shipping containers from the North Harbor in Manila.

But on its way out, the trucks were stopped and seized by BOC officers on suspicion that the vehicles were carrying smuggled rice.

Leguiab, who was tasked to review the case, initially allegedly asked for P15, 000 from Guansing, who gave the former P10,000.

On Dec. 22, 2001, Leguiab allegedly asked from the complainant an additional P5,000 and a bottle of wine allegedly for BOC legal service director Gallant Soriano, which the businessman failed to give.

The following month, Guansing said he followed up on the case of his trucks only to be told that he needed to give the respondent P80,000 in exchange for the release of his vehicles.

Because of the latest demand, the businessman said he asked help from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) which conducted an entrapment operation on Feb. 11, 2002.

Leguiab said he was framed. The Office of the Ombudsman said it sees no ill motive on the part of the complainant, who had no reason to fabricate stories against Leguiab.