BIR officer fined P2k for failure to declare kids’ investment in SALN

A Quezon City court has convicted an officer of the Bureau of Internal Revenue for her alleged failure to state the investment of her children in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Networth (SALN).

According to the Office of the Ombudsman, Judge John Boomsri Rodolfo of Branch 38 of the Metropolitan Trial Court of Quezon City found BIR District Officer III Arlene Grageda guilty of violation of Section 8(a) of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The Ombudsman said Grageda was ordered to pay a penalty of P2,000.

The case stemmed from Grageda's supposed non-declaration of her minor children's financial interests in her 2006 SALN.

In its decision, the court said Grageda should have stated the investment of her children in Isla Janitorial Services Inc. due to its public enlistment at the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The court also refused to believe the claims of Grageda that she only finished the payment of her children's investment in 2007.

“The fact that her minor children were publicly listed as investors in the General Information Sheet of Isla Janitorial Services, Inc. filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is enough reason for Ms. Grageda to declare said investments in her SALN,” the court said.

Government employees are required under the law to disclose in their SALN the businesses and financial interests of their spouses and unmarried children below 18 years old living in their households. —NB, GMA News