Cebu BIR exec sacked due to ‘unexplained wealth’

Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo dismissed from the government service yesterday a chief revenue officer of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Cebu City for failing to justify his P5.7-million "unexplained wealth."

The Ombudsman also forfeited the retirement benefits of Nieto Agad Racho and barred him from re-entering government service.

Racho was meted the administrative sanction after graft investigators discovered, with the help of an exposé of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, that he and his wife have maintained deposits amounting to P5.7 million in three Cebu banks.

Ombudsman spokesman Ernesto Nocos said Racho was found to have concealed from his statement of assets and liabilities his business interests in two companies, Angelsons Lending and Investors Inc. and NAL Pay Phone Services.

Based on his SAL, the Ombudsman said there was a significant increase of P696,000 in his 2000 net worth, which was "manifestly out of proportion to his salary as a government official."

Marcelo also ordered the filing of criminal charges against Racho, a former district revenue officer in Talisay City, for violations of Republic Act 1379 (Anti-Ill Gotten Wealth Law) and the Code of Conduct for Public Officials.