CA upholds BI officer’s suspension

MANILA, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman’s suspension of a senior officer of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) for alleged non-disclosure and misdeclaration of his properties in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth has been upheld at the Court of Appeals (CA).

In denying Ferdinand Sampol’s petition for preliminary injunction, the CA said it would be encroaching on the rule-making powers of the Office of the Ombudsman.

The CA also stressed that the assailed decision had already been modified by the joint order issued by the Ombudsman, such that the penalty was reduced to eight months’ suspension without pay.

Sampol was the former chief of the BI at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport but is now assigned at the main office of the BI.

Investigation of the Office of the Ombudsman showed he and his wife own a residential house in Quezon City and a 1997 Honda CRV that were not reflected in his SALN for the years 1995 to 2006.

Sampol was also found to have understated the amount of his property at Xavierville Subdivision and his Mitsubishi L-200.

Sampol was imposed the penalty of dismissal from government service with accessory penalties of forfeiture of benefits and perpetual disqualification to hold public office.

However, he filed several pleas before the Office of the Ombudsman and filed a petition before the CA without waiting for the decision of the anti-graft agency on his motion for reconsideration.

On Sept, 6, 2012, the Office of the Ombudsman lowered Sampol’s penalty from dismissal to suspension for eight months. 

Associate Justice Florito Macalino wrote the CA decision. Associate Justices Sesinando Villon and Pedro Corales concurred. – With Edu Punay