Customs exec faces charges after misdeclaring net worth

MANILA, Philippines - A Bureau of Customs (BOC) official is currently facing administrative charges after she was reportedly found to have amassed wealth valued at P60 million, more than 461 times her declared net worth. Visitacion Difuntorum, a customs operation officer V, amassed real properties and luxury vehicles during her 38-year employment at the BOC, the Department of Finance’s Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) claimed. Difuntorum “amassed wealth grossly disproportionate to her modest income as a civil servant," the DOF’s internal anti-graft unit said in its charge sheet. The official was charged with perjury, falsification, and violation of Republic Acts (RA) 3019 and 6713. At least 14 residential and commercial properties, including a three-star hotel and restaurant and a beach resort, are registered under Difuntorum’s name, RIPS executive director Romeo Tomas said. Besides owning a four-parcel lot in Culiat, Tandang Sora, Quezon City, Difuntorum also reportedly has three upscale residential houses in Tandang Sora measuring about 241.1 square meters. The BOC official was also reportedly identified as the owner of a three-storey hotel and restaurant in Catarman, Northern Samar, a 1.5-hectare beach resort in Bobon, Northern Samar, 2.5 hectares agricultural land in La Paz, Tarlac, another agricultural land measuring 6,937 sq. m. in Bobon, Northern Samar, a residential lot in Bobon, Northern Samar, and two prime commercial lots in Catarman, Northern Samar. She also has two Mitsubishi Pajeros and two Honda Civics. “To be sure, it is difficult for a reasonable mind to imagine, much less accept, how respondent could have legitimately financed the acquisitions costing several millions of pesos," the DOF-RIPS said. Difuntorum also allegedly overstated and inflated her liabilities to hide her ill-gotten wealth. - GMANews.TV