Ombudsman dismisses BIR couple for unexplained wealth

MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the dismissal of a couple working for the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for unexplained wealth.

The Ombudsman found Marlon and Emma Pascual, Revenue officers I and II, guilty of grave misconduct and serious dishonesty for failing to declare all their assets and business interests in their Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).

“With respondents-spouses Pascual deliberate attempt to evade the mandatory disclosure of all assets acquired during their incumbency in order to conceal their accumulation of wealth which is manifestly out of proportion to their salaries, they are guilty of dishonesty,” the Ombudsman said in its 13-page decision.

The Department of Finance-Revenue Integrity Protection Service (DOF-RIPS) said on Wednesday, March 19, that the case stemmed from information it received on the couple in 2005 that led to an exhaustive investigation and lifestyle check.

The couple had a combined annual salary of P278,000 yet it was discovered that they owned a Ford Explorer, Honda CRV, and a Hyundai Starex. They also had a Mitsubishi car registered under the name of their daughter, Denise Anne, who was an unemployed minor at the time. 

Undeclared business interests

The Pascuals tried to justify their capacity to buy the expensive vehicles by citing several businesses that they had, but the DOF-RIPS found out that there were no business or financial interests declared in their SALNs.

“Such non-disclosure essentially embraced concealment of unexplained wealth,” the Ombudsman said.

The Ombudsman also rejected the defense of the couple that they did not declare the vehicles in their SALNs as they were not yet fully paid at the time.

“Foremost, the said vehicles were registered in respondent Marlon’s name and registration of a motor vehicle connotes ownership,” the Ombudsman said.

The decision also stated that accepting such an explanation “would set a precedent wherein public officials may acquire as many assets and never declare it by mere invocation that the property is not yet fully paid.”

“Such act erodes the function of requiring accuracy of entries in the SALN which must be a true and detailed statement. It would undermine the requirement of filing a SALN as the means to achieve the policy of accountability of all public officers and employees in the government,” it said.

The couple tried to hide their unexplained wealth by declaring various loans but the Ombudsman said that “the loans raised more questions instead of settling the controversy.”

“How were respondents-spouses Pascual able to keep up with the monthly amortizations and their remarkable monthly living cost of expenses considering their meager income?” it asked.

The Ombudsman noted that in 2001, the couple had a combined gross annual salary of  only P278,424.00 when they purchased a vehicle worth P1.8 million.

The dismissal, which takes effect immediately, would lead to the forfeiture of all retirement benefits, cancellation of civil service eligibility and bar from re-employment in any branch or instrumentality of the government, including government-owned or controlled corporations. – Rappler.com