BOC chief charged over appointment of 3 execs

MANILA, Philippines — Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero is facing criminal and administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman over his alleged illegal appointment of three ranking Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials early this year.

The complainant, Joana Gonzales, a member of the anti-corruption watchdog Transparency in Public Service (TIPS), urged the ombudsman to investigate Guerrero and the others for criminal offenses of usurpation of official functions under the Revised Penal Code and violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The complainant said Guerrero must also be investigated for administrative offenses of grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Also named as respondents in the complaint were three ranking BOC officials: Intelligence Group deputy commissioner Raniel Ramiro, Risk Management Office chief George Patrick Avila and Office of the Commissioner chief of staff and Revenue Collection Monitoring Group acting deputy commissioner Teodoro Jumamil.

The complainant called on the ombudsman to place Guerrero and the three other officials under preventive suspension while the investigation is ongoing.

In her complaint-affidavit, Gonzales said Guerrero appointed the three BOC officials, who were his former staff members, to their respective high-ranking positions even if they are non-career employees.

The complainant pointed out that under the Civil Service Commission 2017 Omnibus Rules on Appointments and Other Human Resource Actions, “no consultant, contractual, non-career or detailed employee shall be designated to a position exercising control or supervision over regular and career employees.”

Gonzales maintained that under Section 9 of the Civil Service Law, personal and confidential staff of an official who holds position at the pleasure of the President are part of the non-career service.  – With Robertzon Ramirez