Seizure of Ex-Customs Exec’s assets

The Sandiganbayan has affirmed a Manila court ruling allowing the government to seize the suspected ill-gotten property of a retired Bureau of Customs official.

In a 28-page decision dated July 18, the court’s Third Division denied the appeal of former Customs operation officer Manuel Valencia on the 2015 order of the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC).

The order granted on appeal the Ombudsman’s forfeiture petition covering five contiguous parcels of land in Parañaque City acquired in 1988 for P1.2 million. Valencia had an annual basic salary of P47,622 at the time.

The Sandiganbayan said the Manila RTC correctly ruled that the purchase of the land was “manifestly out of proportion” to Valencia’s salary. It added that he failed to present evidence to overcome the presumption of anomaly.

“All told, save for his bare allegations, respondent-appellant has failed to provide any adequate substantiation to his alleged other lawful sources of income,” the decision read.