MikeLigalig.com

By Joann Santiago

Three employees of the Department of Finance and its attached agencies -- the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) -- are facing graft and corruption charges for allegedly failing the lifestyle check.

DOF’s anti-corruption arm –- Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) -- filed before the Ombudsman last December 2 the complaints against Antonio M. Veses, Supervising Customs Operations Officer and Assistant Chief, Informal Entry Division of the BOC; Jessie J. Carlos, Tax Specialist I, DOF “One-Stop Shop” Tax Credit and Duty Drawback Center (DOF-OSS Center); and Madelyn T. Sacluti, Revenue Officer IV of the BIR.

In a statement, RIPS said the three employees are subject of preliminary investigation for Falsification of Official Documents, Perjury, Grave Misconduct, Dishonesty, Gross Neglect of Duty, violations of Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees, and accumulation of unexplained wealth beyond government salary and other lawful income.

The complaint against Veses was filed after RIPS found out that despite his gross annual income of P395,676, he was able to accumulate several real properties and put up business investments, such as townhouses and office spaces for rent, AMV Facial Care Center, AMV Reflex and Body Massage, and a private resort, known as “Jardin de Antonio” in Tanauan, Batangas.

“His sworn Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN) bared that even though he has enormous loans, he managed to disburse some of them in cash while simultaneously afforded high-ticket purchases such as a Honda Civic sedan, a Toyota Rav4 SUV, a Mitsubishi Outlander SUV, and a house and lot in Parañaque City worth P7,500,000,” RIPS said.

The complaint also alleged that Veses manipulated some entries in his 2001, 2003 and 2010 SALNs regarding the values or costs of his assets and liabilities.

RIPS said Veses’ networth from 2001 to 2010 rose from P4,286,000 to P13,789,000.

It also said that the Customs officer failed to include in his SALNs some properties like the two commercial lands and a four-storey building located along Dr. A. Santos Ave., San Dionisio, Parañaque City; a 1994 Toyota Corolla sedan; two parcels of land and some improvements which comprise his Batangas garden resort.

“Similarly, some of his businesses were not correspondingly stated in his SALNs for the years that he actually acquired them. He also failed to disclose that he and his family have substantial interests in Leogistics Corporation, in which they serve as its incorporators and corporate officers at the same time,” it said.

Relatively, the complaint against Carlos came about after RIPS discovered that the Finance employee was able to acquire several assets amid liabilities from credit card companies, as well as mortgage payables and personal loans

RIPS said the Finance employee’s properties include a Toyota Innova SUV, a Hyundai Starex Van, a two-storey house and lot along Felix Huertas St., Sta. Cruz, Manila for P3,000,000, and two farm lots in Darasa, Tanauan City, Batangas worth P4,000,000 in cash, all of which were acquired from 2008 to 2010 despite his annual gross compensation during that time of P139,068-P190,800.

It said that based on Carlos’ latest SALN, his annual gross income is P210,408.

“The disorganized and incomplete information as to his assets, liabilities and business interest as shown in his SALNs for the years 2000 to 2010 underscored Carlos’ impertinent style in accomplishing the same,” RIPS said.

Meanwhile, RIPS said Sacluti was able to acquire several real estate properties in Quezon City and Laguna during her stay in BIR amid an annual gross salary of P380,532.

“A further probe of her generous investment in marketable securities for selected years appeared to be questionable as she subsisted only on her diffident income as a government employee, excluding applicable taxes and deductions,” RIPS said.

RIPS found out that the BIR employee failed to include in her SALNs three real properties like a four-storey building and a residential lot in Tandang Sora, Quezon City and another residential land in Maulawin, Pagsanjan, Laguna.

“In addition, she did not state with particularity her three Toyota motor vehicles, namely: 1997 Toyota Corolla, 2003 Toyota Revo and 2009 Toyota Innova but collectively referred to them as “vehicles” in her SALNs,” it said.

The statement also said that Sacluti, in her SALNs, declared a P50,000 GSIS/Pag-IBIG HDMF loan “but it turned out that the same loan was actually P11,898.44 and already paid in full since January 11, 1999.”

She also failed to declare in her SALNs that her husband was the owner of “R. Sacluti Enterprises” as well as the contractor/lessor of an apartment on Ruby St., Tandang Sora, Quezon City, it said.

“Finally, she failed to secure the necessary travel authorities relative to her foreign trips which is required under Civil Service Regulations, Executive Order No. 6, Series of 1986, and DOF’s department orders and related rules,” it said.

RIPS said the three employees may undergo a six-month preventive suspension without pay pursuant to Section 24, Republic Act No. 6770, or the “Ombudsman Act of 1989” while under investigation.

They will also be dismissed from government service and all their alleged properties will be subject to forfeiture and reversion to the government if they are criminally and administratively indicted.

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