President Rodrigo Duterte said he would terminate the services of 100 more Bureau of Customs (BOC) employees for alleged involvement in corrupt activities.
In a speech on July 25, Duterte said that aside from the 64 BOC officials and employees whose services “will be terminated next week,” another “100 is coming.”
His statement came after he, in a speech on July 11, had told 64 Customs officials and employees allegedly involved in corrupt practices to “resign, or I’ll file charges.” He then met with the BOC officials and employees in Malacañang on July 18 to once again ask them to resign or face charges before the Ombudsman.
During his State of the Nation Address on July 22, Duterte said he did not want the more than 60 BOC officials and employees allegedly involved in corrupt practices to go back to the agency, but wanted them to be transferred to Congress to help with the paperwork.
“All of them will go out from the [premises] of the customs area. I do not want them back,” Duterte said.
In response to Duterte’s statements, the Office of the Ombudsman on July 24 ordered an in-depth investigation into the alleged graft and corrupt practices perpetrated by officials and employees of BOC, in which results of the probe may lead to the filing of criminal and administrative charges.
The Ombudsman said that while conducting its investigation, it may order the preventive suspension of any officer or employee under its authority. This is if it judges that the evidence of guilt is strong, and that the charge against the officer or employee involves dishonesty, oppression or grave misconduct or neglect in the performance of duty. This is also if the charges warrant removal from the service; or the respondent’s continued stay in office may prejudice the case filed against him.
If warranted, the Ombudsman may also order the suspension or dismissal of erring public officials found administratively liable for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, or conduct prejudicial to the interest of the service.
The penalty of dismissal from the service carries the accessory penalties of perpetual disqualification from holding public office, forfeiture of retirement benefits, being barred from taking the civil service examination, and cancellation of eligibility.
