DOF tax specialist fired for not declaring assets

MANILA, Philippines - A tax specialist of the Department of Finance (DOF) was dismissed from service for failing to disclose all his assets in his 2007 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

The Office of the Ombudsman found Jessie Javier Carlos of the One-Stop Shop Inter-agency Tax Credit and Duty Drawback Center guilty of grave misconduct and neglect of duty for not declaring his house and lot in Manila in his SALNs from 2003 to 2006, his Toyota Innova SUV in his 2007 SALN, and his business interest in his 2010 SALN.

Carlos’ civil service eligibility was also canceled, his retirement benefits forfeited, and he was perpetually disqualified ffrom reemployment in the government.  

Carlos was found to have purchased two farm lots in Tanauan City, Batangas for P4 million in cash in 2010. He earned P2.46 million from 2001 to 2011.

The Office of the Ombudsman said: “With respect to respondent’s liabilities, noticeable is that his credit card liabilities in the amounts of P600,000 and P4 million, respectively, remained dormant for several years, with the latter loan increased to P5 million in 2010. Noteworthy to mention is the fact that  notwithstanding the huge credit he incurred, he was not deterred from obtaining another vehicle in 2010, a Hyundai Starex van worth P1.6 million.

“To our mind, the incurrence of tremendous loans posed these questions: (1) how can he be able to pay these loans and obtain some more when he has no other business interest or financial connections declared in his SALNs from 2000 to 2010? (2) who are his creditors who can lend him millions of pesos without him paying any single centavo for years? 

“The failure to declare some of his assets at the time these assets were actually acquired and/or registered under his name and his scheme of claiming several indebtedness without giving particulars i.e. from whom he acquired these enormous loans, can also reflect his evil desire to conceal his ill-gotten wealth.”  

The case arose from a complaint of the DOF Revenue Integrity Protection Service in December 2011. In a separate decision, the anti-graft agency ordered the filing of criminal charges against Carlos for violation of Republic Act 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act in relation to RA 6713, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, Article 171(4) (Falsification), and Article 183 (Perjury) of the Revised Penal Code.