Tax evasion charges against ex-CIDG chief, top Customs cop affirmed by Ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines—The Office of the Ombudsman affirmed its earlier resolution, and pushed for the filing a criminal case against former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) chief Nestorio Gualberto.

In a memorandum, acting Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro dismissed Gualberto’s motion for reconsideration for failure to raise new issues that would warrant a reversal of the Ombudsman’s earlier ruling.

“Gualberto raised issues in his motion of reconsideration that were already addressed in the assailed resolution,” the Ombudsman resolution stated.

Gualberto will be facing a case for two counts of violation of Republic Act 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees before the Sandiganbayan.

Gualberto, currently director of the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) Enforcement and Security Service (BOC-ESS), was ordered charged for his failure to file his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN) for the years 1998 and 2000.