Customs Security Guard Suspended for Unexplained wealth

A February 16, 2011 press release by the Department of Finance

The Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) of the Department of Finance received on February 15 from the Office of the Ombudsman the decision to suspend a security guard of the Bureau of Customs for Dishonesty and Grave Misconduct on the alleged failure to properly declare his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth of which are grossly disproportionate to his known and disclosed sources of income.


Raul Enriquez, a Customs guard at the NAIA Customs House in Pasay City began his employment with the Bureau of Customs in 1986 as a Customs Guard I with an annual salary of Thirteen Thousand and Five Hundred Twenty Four Pesos (P13,524.00). His latest service record reflects that he is presently holding the position of Security Guard II with an annual salary of One Hundred Thousand and Five Hundred Pesos (P100,500.00).

Based on his Sworn Statements of Assets and Liabilities and Net Worth for the years 1987, 1988, 1991, 1994 to 2004, Enriquez declared his and/or his wife’s real property assets amounting to a total of P5.4 million. Enriquez stated that he and his spouse do not own real properties other than those declared in his SALNs; but based on the information gathered by RIPS, Enriquez and/or his spouse also owned a 216 square meter and a 379 square meter parcel of land and a two-storey mansion, all at Parkwood Greens Executive Village in Pasig City, as well as a residential house in San Nicolas, Pasig City. Enriquez, with his wife, also own a 2005 Ford Escape SUV and a 2000 Toyota Corolla model.

The substantial ownership of said property by Enriquez is allegedly manifestly out of proportion to his annual income of only One Hundred Thousand and Five Hundred Pesos (P100,500.00). “Based on confidential information gathered by RIPS and the OMB’s investigations on Enriquez’s lifestyle, there is sufficient evidence that Enriquez committed acts and omissions that are illegal, unjust, improper and in violation of foregoing laws.

Mr. Enriquez, while having four children to support, managed to acquire unexplainable wealth, while classified as having one of the lowest ranking positions within the plantilla of the Bureau of Customs. The accusatory allegations contained in the complaint, if proven true, could warrant his removal from government service,” said Finance Undersecretary for Revenue Operations and Legal Affairs Carlo Carag.

In an informal inquiry with the Bureau of Internal Revenue, it was also learned that in addition to the taxes withheld from his salary, Enriquez only paid minimal income taxes, creating serious doubt on his receipt of any other substantial income outside his earning as a government employee that can justify his considerable purchases.

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