3 customs officers charged for not declaring real properties, businesses

MANILA, Philippines—Three officers of the Bureau of Customs (BOC), including a couple, are in hot water for failing to declare real properties and businesses in their Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and NetWorth (SALN).

For violating Section 8 of Republic Act 6713 or the “Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees,” three Customs Operations Officers were found guilty by the Manila Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) for multiple counts of violation of the said law.

The complaints were filed in 2007 by the Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS), the anticorruption arm of the Department of Finance (DOF), before the Office of the Ombudsman.

In a statement released Thursday by Malacañang, spouses Teotimo and Vivian Sacluti, both appointed as Customs Operations Officer III, will face six counts each of the same violation of RA 6713—six years after the filing of non-disclosure of SALN charges.

This case stemmed from the Saclutis omitting their motoring business from 2000 to 2005 in their joint SALNs, which would cost them fines worth up to P30,000.

In a 16-page decision issued by the Manila MTC branch 30 on May 31, the testimony of Teotimo Sacluti wasn’t acknowledged. The testimony said he was unaware that the business, under the name “Bodgie Motor Works,” was registered under his name.

He claimed that his brother, Felix Salcuti would use his name in setting up the said business.

“Be that as it may, a public official or employee must comply with what the SALN requires to be disclosed and absent any clear showing of mere oversight, inadvertence or the like will not exempt anyone from liability under the law,” said the court decision.

On August 12, meanwhile, Pier Angeli Senangote Sealtiel, Customs Operations Officer V, branch 3 of Manila MTC declared her liable for ten counts of RA 6713 violation—yielding a total of P50,000 fine for failing to declare real properties in her SALN.

Sealtiel did not include her SALN two adjacent lots and an apartment unit in Parañaque City owned by her husband for the years 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005.

According to Section 8 of R.A. 6713, “public officials and employees have an obligation to accomplish and submit declarations under oath of, and the public has the right to know, their assets, liabilities, net worth and financial and business interests including those of their spouses and of unmarried children under eighteen (18) years of age living in their households.”

The Bureau of Customs (BOC), headed by Customs chief Ruffy Biazon, is reportedly among the top government agencies prone to corruption.

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