A former clerk of the Bureau of Customs (BoC) in Lapu-Lapu City was convicted on charges of malversation of funds for pocketing P1.2 million in government funds two decades ago.
Crispiniano Ligan, special collection officer assigned at the Mactan Export Processing Zone, was found guilty of misappropriating P980,125 in customs duties and taxes.
He was also held liable for falsifying 21 official receipts (ORs) amounting to P197,564, and reducing the customs duties and taxes of Philippine Izumi Corp. by P29,593.
Ligan was sentenced to 40 years in jail and ordered to pay the amount he stole from the government.
He’s currently out on bail and hasn’t attended court hearings.
Under the law, the maximum jail term that can be imposed against any convicted person should not exceed 40 years.
“If the penalties are to be served successively, the maximum duration should not exceed threefold the length of the most severe penalty but in no case shall it exceed 40 years,” said Ombudsman investigator and spokesperson Ma. Corazon Naraja.
In his decision, Judge Toribio Quiwag of the Regional Trial Court Branch 27 in Lapu-Lapu City said Ligan’s failure to account for the missing funds under his care is enough evidence that he misappropriated the amount for personal use.
The Ombudsman-Visayas filed 23 cases in court against Ligan.
All cases were jointly tried since the incidents happened in 1995 and the same prosecution witnesses were presented against him.
Ligan appeared in court during his arraignment and entered a “not guilty” plea. When trial ensued, he no longer appeared in court.
In examining Ligan’s revenue collection from January to December 1995, the Commission on Audit found that Ligan deliberately falsified the official receipts presented to the BoC to show a smaller amount than what was collected.
He was also found to have violated Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act when he favored Philippine Izumi Corp. by under-assessing its goods and reducing its payment on custom duties and taxes.