Porsche-driving Customs clerk quits

A sense of delicadeza or a move to save his skin?

The Porsche-riding Bureau of Customs (BOC) clerk, who is accused of beating up and shooting at a student in a traffic altercation, has resigned.

But the government is bent on pursuing more charges against Paulino Elevado, Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon said Thursday.

Biazon said the bureau’s Internal Administration Group (IAG) had informed him that Elevado, who was receiving a monthly salary of about P9,000, had submitted a letter of resignation.

The Customs Commissioner said the resignation might be a means to preempt the BOC investigation that could lead to the filing of administrative charges against Elevado.

“We are going to that direction because of the charges that would be filed. For me, once due process is complied with, then we will hand out our sentence,” Biazon said.

“So probably, in effect, it was a way of preempting us (but) we are still pursuing other cases that we can file against him,” he added.

Biazon said that he would first review how the resignation would affect the case against Elevado and if the clerk could still get his benefits.

“Let’s go by objective. My objective is to charge him with whatever else I can charge him. The IAG will advise me, in light of this recent development, on what else we can do,” he added.

Biazon had ordered a lifestyle check on Elevado after he was caught driving the posh sports car as it chased a Toyota Innova driven by a 20-year-old male student along the South Luzon Express Way. He allegedly beat up and fired a shot at the student.

The Department of Finance also charged him before Department of Justice with  serious dishonesty, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, and with violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public officials and Employees.

Last month, the Philippine National Police (PNP) revoked the gun licenses of Elevado and his companion, Florencio Bato, following an investigation of the January 21 road rage incident.

Revoked were Elevado’s license for his .40-caliber Taurus pistol, which was confiscated during the incident, and Bato’s papers for his .45-caliber Sam Shooter, according to Senior Supt. Raul Petrasanta, acting chief of the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office.

Elevado and Bato allegedly mauled the student during a traffic altercation, and then shot at the student’s vehicle as he drove off.

Security cameras on SLEx caught the incident. Elevado and Bato face charges of frustrated murder and physical injuries.

Elevado surfaced and faced Biazon days after missing work. He denied owning the white Porsche, a 2006 model, which sells for P5 million. He claimed he was merely acting as an agent for its sale.