The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is looking into the statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALNs) of 76 Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials as part of its ongoing investigation into alleged graft and corrupt practices at the bureau.
In separate letters to Customs commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero dated August 9 and received August 13, NBI deputy director for regional operations Atty. Antonio Pagatpat requested for the personal data sheets and SALNs filed within 2014 to 2018 of the 76 officials, which include, among others, deputy commissioners, district collectors, and directors.
Pagatpat said the request relates to the investigation being conducted by NBI after President Rodrigo Duterte during his last State of the Nation Address (SONA) ordered a general probe on alleged graft and corrupt practices at BOC. The request is also pursuant to the Department of Justice’s Department Order No. 383 issued on July 26, 2019.
Much earlier, on July 11, Duterte said he had told 64 Customs officials and employees allegedly engaged in corrupt practices to “resign, or I’ll file charges.” He then met these officials and employees in Malacañang on July 18 to ask them to resign or be charged before the Ombudsman. Duterte in a later speech said he would terminate the services of 100 more BOC employees for alleged involvement in corrupt activities.
In response to Duterte’s speeches, the Office of the Ombudsman last July 24 ordered an in-depth investigation into the alleged graft and corrupt practices perpetrated by officials and employees of BOC.
Last August 15, the Ombudsman in separate rulings ordered seven BOC officials and employees dismissed from service for grave misconduct and neglect of duty.
The rulings included the dismissal from service of special police assistant chief Jaybee Raul Cometa, special agent I Oscar Farin, customs operations officer III Vicente Gamboa, Manila International Container Port deputy collector for operations Ramon Hernandez, COO V Lomonto Macabando, COO III Vanzandt Remonde, and customs security guard II Renly Tiñana. In another ruling, suspended for one year without pay was COO IV Dolores Domingo for reportedly refusing to comply with an order reassigning her to the Port of Cagayan de Oro in December 2016.
Guerrero, in a press conference on August 20, said the dismissed seven were among 119 personnel whose names BOC had submitted to the Ombudsman for investigation due to different administrative and criminal cases.
