Ombudsman Dismisses BIR Assistant Regional Director

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Ombudsman Dismisses BIR Assistant Regional Director
DOF-RIPS scores another win for good governance

To correct its February 24, 2014 decision, the Office of the Ombudsman after an extensive review of the records found Marina De Guzman, Chief Revenue Officer IV and Assistant Regional Director of Revenue Region No. 7, liable for Grave Misconduct and Serious Dishonesty. The review was done upon De Guzman’s Motion for Reconsideration dated March 5, 2014 where she assailed the said Ombudsman decision finding her administratively liable for Simple Neglect of Duty and imposing upon her the penalty of suspension without pay for a period of three (3) months.

In its seven-page Order dated August 7, 2015 and issued recently, the Anti-Graft Body stressed the fact De Guzman admitted in her Motion for Reconsideration and other pleadings that she failed to indicate in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) two agricultural lands in Pandi, Bulacan and a memorial lot in Dasmariñas, Cavite. The Ombudsman also emphasized that records show De Guzman repeatedly omitting the subject properties and their correct values from her SALNs over the course of several years.

“Worse, respondent’s callous indifference towards properly accomplishing her SALNs shows an utter disregard for the value of this official document and its significance to public accountability and trust in the civil service,” added the Ombudsman.

For violating Republic Acts No. 3019 and 6713, the Ombudsman imposed upon De Guzman the principal penalty of dismissal from service along with the accessory penalties of cancellation of her civil service eligibility, the forfeiture of her retirement benefits, and her perpetual disqualification from holding public office.

The Department of Finance-Revenue Integrity Protection Service (DOF-RIPS) filed on February 16, 2006 an administrative complaint against De Guzman for Dishonesty and Grave Misconduct. The Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) is the anti-corruption arm of the DOF.

Under the present Aquino Administration, RIPS has consistently investigated allegations of corruption in the DOF and its attached agencies (the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Bureau of Customs, the Bureau of Local Government Finance, Bureau of Treasury, Central Board of Assessment Appeals, the Insurance Commission, the National Tax Research Center, the Fiscal Incentives Review Board, and the Privatization and Management Office). RIPS calls on the public to actively participate in the eradication of corruption in the Government by reporting public officials and employees who engage in graft and corrupt practices.