For Unexplained Wealth, Customs Collector Suspended

An official of the Cebu-based Bureau of Customs has been placed under preventive suspension while he is facing investigation for alleged unexplained wealth based on his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Networth (SALN).

Maximo Dela Peña Reyes, Collector IV of the Port of Cebu, is facing investigation in relation to the charges filed against him for Serious Dishonesty, Grave Misconduct and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service.

Acting on a tipster’s report at the Ombudsman lifestyle check hotline on the frequent airplane travels of Reyes, the Field Investigation Office (FIO) conducted a lifestyle check on Reyes.

After the fact-finding investigation, the FIO determined a prima facie evidence of unexplained wealth amounting to P89,194,806.37, with undeclared or misdeclared assets amounting to P44,562,440.67.

It said that aside from observing a P57.3 million increase in his net worth for the period of 2000 to 2010, the FIO also discovered that he did not file his SALNs for the years 2001 and 2009.

The FIO thereafter filed criminal and administrative charges against Reyes, and also requested that a full blown preliminary investigation, administrative adjudication and forfeiture proceedings be conducted against him.

Acting on the FIO’s prayer in its complaint, the Office of the Ombudsman preventively suspended Reyes for six months without pay pending the conduct of administrative adjudication.

MetroCebuNews has tried but still failed to get the reaction of the concerned Customs official.