MANILA: The office of the Ombudsman suspended a customs official for failing to declare his firearms and his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) and for traveling abroad without authorization from higher-ups.
In a 17-page decision, the anti-graft body found customs operations officer Recaflor Edward F. de Leon guilty of simple neglect of duty and was meted with a six month suspension without pay.
“Taking all the circumstances into consideration, there is sufficient evidence to find the respondent guilty of simple neglect of duty,” the decision read.
Mr. de Leon was found guilty of simple neglect after he failed to declare three licensed firearms from 2003 to 2011. The Ombudsman also rejected his defense that the undeclared firearms were lumped into the “others” item in his SALNs.
Mr. de Leon, the Ombudsman said, should have itemized the firearms since their values exceed P100,000.
The Ombudsman likewise found Mr. De Leon administratively liable for failing to secure the requisite travel authority when he flew to Bangkok in 2001.
