Criminal and administrative charges were filed by the Department of Finance (DOF) against a Mindanao-based Customs collector before the Office of the Ombudsman Tuesday last week.
The case against Lowell Lomulio Medija of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Mindanao Container Terminal Phividec in Tocoloan, Misamis Oriental, was filed by the department’s Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) after a RIPS investigation showed that Medija was able to acquire prime properties, mansions, and 16 vehicles, despite a P511.668 annual salary.
Medija is from Davao City. He used to work as court employee, then manager of the now defunct city- government Davao City Telephone System and then customs employee. His wife was also employed by the bureau of customs during the time Commissioner Mison.
RIPS investigators discovered that the Medija has two newly-built mansions in South Royal Pines-Matina in Davao City, a house and lot in Talomo Bucana Moonland Subdivision, a residential lot in Toril Eden Mountain Haven Subdivision, a 5.5-hectare agricultural tract of land planted to pomelo, banana and mango, six poultry buildings, a piggery and a two-storey mansion with a swimming pool.
His 16 vehicles include a Ford Explorer Wagon, a Toyota Fortuner Wagon, a Toyota Land Cruiser, a Honda Civic Sedan, a Nissan Silvia Sedan, a Honda Hatchback Sedan, a Mazda Tribute 2, Isuzu cargo trucks and utility vans, and a Honda motorcycle.
RIPS pointed out that Medija, in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) declared several businesses, namely Semmacor, L.M. Tunnel Operations, A.A. Resources, Inc. and Callwell TSI Corporation, to justify his assets and properties.
However, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said these properties are only trade names and do not regularly file income tax returns.
“Another existing corporation, the Bell Fruits and Livestock Farms, Inc. whose earnings were based on its Income Tax Returns (ITR) from years 2006 to 2007, likewise appear to be insignificant to substantiate such a luxurious lifestyle,” the department said.
The Finance department pointed out that the Bell Fruits and Livestock Farms, Inc. “appears to have existed earlier than 2006 (but) was declared in Medija’s SALN only in the year 2008.”
Medija faces suspension while the Ombudsman is conducting an investigation on his case. He could be dismissed from government service if proven guilty and his questionable assets will be forfeited in favor of the government.
This developed as the Davao City-based People’s Action Against Corruption (PAAC), composed of moe than a dozen groups advocating transparency in governnance, said they will continue their campaign against smuggling, smuggling and other illegal activities said to be rampant in the Port of Davao.
Prof. Adrian Tamayo, a PAAC co-convenor, said that the group is thankful that erstwhile Davao Customs Collector Anju Castigadorhas been outsted from Davao and transferred to Cagayan de Oro, as a result of a series of administrative and criminal charges filed against him. However Tamayo said, Castigador is just an incidence in the campaign to rid the government of corrupt officials and employees.
PAAC will continue advocating for the eradication of corruption not just in the BOC but also in other agencies of the government, starting with those that have earned notoriety as centers of corruption like the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Education, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Philippine National Police, among many others.
