Finance Dept. raps Customs official for SALN violations

More cases of fraud in the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of government officials are being discovered, according to the anti-corruption unit of the Department of Finance.

 

One of the cases is against an official of the Bureau of Customs who is facing possible preventive suspension due to serious SALN violations, the Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) said in a statement Friday.

 

RIPS filed a complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against Herminio Castillejos Lindo, a Customs special agent, for non-disclosure of real and personal assets and non-filing of his 2003 SALN.

 

According to the investigation conducted by RIPS, Lindo failed to account for a house and lot in San Pedro, Laguna, in his SALNs filed prior to 2009 and 2010, and a 2007 Toyota Fortuner worth roughly P1.7 million.

 

RIPS said that a transfer certificate of title, a deed of absolute sale dated June 16, 2008 and other related tax declarations showed that Lindo owns the Laguna property. Lindo declared the property in his 2009 and 2010 SALNs, saying that he supposedly acquired this in 1983 through a housing loan. 

 

However, the property was not reflected in his SALNs prior to 2009 and 2010.  

 

Meanwhile, the Toyota Fortuner, acquired in November 2007, was registered under Lindo's wife’s name, but RIPs said that this should still be declared in the SALN. 

 

Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees requires that public officials must disclose a true and detailed statement of their assets, liabilities, net worth, financial connections and business interests, including “those of their spouse and their unmarried children under eighteen years of age living in their households.”

 

It was only in his 2009 and 2010 SALNs that Lindo declared a “Cash on Hand” entry in his statements.

 

RIPs said it was enough to cast doubts as to the truthfulness and veracity of Lindo's declaration.

 

“Considerably, Lindo’s inconsistent and fallacious declarations in his SALNs, particularly about his real property, car loan, and hard cash, underscore his utter failure to observe truthful and comprehensive disclosure of his assets, liabilities, and net worth, in palpable violation of RA 6713,” RIPS said.

 

In its complaint, RIPS said Lindo should be placed under preventive suspension while investigation of his unexplained wealth is ongoing. 

 

Lindo may be dismissed from service if found guilty of illegally amassing wealth, according to RIPS. —With Eileen Estoquia/VS, GMA News