The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered an investigation into graft and corruption within the Bureau of Customs.
In a statement sent to the media, the Ombudsman said it would file criminal and administrative charges against erring Customs officials and employees and order them suspended or dismissed if they are found guilty of any wrongdoing.
Citing the law creating the Office of the Ombudsman, the agency said it is empowered to investigate and prosecute a case on its own even without a complaint and order any public officer or employee to go on preventive suspension if the evidence of guilt is strong.
Moreover, the Ombudsman could file cases for dishonesty, oppression, grave misconduct or neglect in the performance of duty against erring public servants.
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The Ombudsman may also remove or dismiss employees from government service if they are found administratively liable for grave conduct, gross neglect of duty or conduct prejudicial to the interest of the service.
Employees dismissed in this manner will also suffer perpetual disqualification from holding public office, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and be barred from taking the civil service exam, the Ombudsman said.
During his fourth State of the Nation Address, President Rodrigo Duterte told the 18th Congress to help abolish the Bureau of Customs and to remove corrupt officials and employees.
Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero on Wednesday vowed to go after erring Customs brokers and said he would file appropriate charges against those who violate Customs laws, rules and regulations.
Guerrero said he met with the President and expressed his displeasure over unscrupulous Customs brokers who are involved in illegal activities, and vowed to have their accreditation and licenses revoked.
“The bureau has initiated reforms in our systems to improve efficiency, promote transparency and remove opportunities to commit graft,” Guerrero said.
In his fourth State of the Nation Address, the President called out Customs officials who were facing criminal and administrative charges for alleged corrupt activities.
“If I cannot dismiss them for the reason that there is a security of tenure, I will just allow them to have their plantilla positions but they have to report to Congress everyday to help me in the huge paperwork that we have to do everyday. All of them will go out from the premises of the Customs area,” Duterte said.
Last week, Duterte relieved a whole administrative section of Customs and asked them to report in the Palace.
“Corruption continues and emasculates the courage we need to sustain our moral recovery initiatives,” Duterte said.
“Corruption exasperates. It frustrates. It is also exasperating that there are times when I think that perhaps it is blood that we need to cleanse and rinse away the dirt and the muck that stick to the flesh like leeches,” he added.
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