Ombudsman dismisses BOC execs for unexplained wealth
The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed a ranking official of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and her sister, who was also an official of the agency, for unexplained wealth.
Assistant Ombudsman Mark Jalandoni on Thursday identified the dismissed officials as Matilde Millare, Chief Customs Operations Officer assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport 9NAIA) and Ana Maria Concepcion-Maglasan, a former Customs Operations Officer V.
The case against the two were the result of complaints filed by the Department of Finance-Revenue Integrity Protection Service (DOF-RIPS).
On Millare's case, the Office of the Ombudsman found "substantial evidence of Grave Misconduct and Dishonesty".
She was thus dismissed from service and her eligibility was cancelled, her retirement benefits forfeited and she was perpetually barred from holding any public position.
The Ombudsman also found "substantial evidence" against Maglasang for the same offense, so despite having resigned from BOC, she was "sanctioned with cancellation of eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits and the perpetual disqualification from re-employment in the government service."
Eight counts of violation of Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Government Officials and Employees and five counts of perjury were filed against Millare while a petition for forfeiture of unlawfully acquired properties was filed against her and her spouse, Joel, was also filed in court.
Millare and Maglasang will also be charged criminally before the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court.
Records show that Millare started working at the BOC in September 1989 with a monthly salary of P6,240. Her current annual gross salary is P249,876 or P20,823 monthly.
However, she was able to buy a house and lot in Cubao, Quezon City, vast landholdings in Zambales and Sorsogon, and a posh residence in Valle Verde from 1978-2004.
She was also able to buy several vehicles like a Honda Civic, a Nissan Exalta, a Honda CRV, trucks and vans used for business, a speedboat, a 2002 Model Mitsubishi Pajero, and a 2004 Model Toyota RAV 4.
Investigations show that the Pajero and Rav 4 were both registered under Millare's name but she did not declare it in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN).