Parañaque city treasurer flunks lifestyle check — DOF

The Parañaque City treasurer who went abroad 49 times from 1997 to 2008 despite drawing a monthly salary of only P25,000 has flunked the government's lifestyle check, the Department of Finance (DOF) said. On Tuesday, the department's Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) filed criminal and administrative cases against Parañaque City treasurer Jesusa Enriquez Cuneta before the Office of the Ombudsman. Charges of multiple violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019) as well as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (RA 6713) were filed. RIPS investigators said Cuneta made a systematic pattern of misrepresentation and evasion in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALNs) in order to conceal any illegitimate acquisition of wealth. "The further probe into Cuneta’s lifestyle, assets and properties throughout her tenure has uncovered substantial incontrovertible facts, whereas her purchases of prime and expensive real properties appeared to be disproportionate to her monthly wage of P25,000," the DOF said. In contrast to Cuneta’s modest earnings, records from the Bureau of Immigration showed that Cuñeta traveled to Hong Kong, Bangkok in Thailand, and Frankfurt in Germany 49 times between 1997 and 2008 even without the required travel authority from the finance department. The DOF said Cuneta’s sizeable possessions included a couple of prime properties in Makati and Las Piñas. She also owns a house and lot with swimming pool in Miramonte Village-Pansol and a massive lot worth P1.8 million in Laguna Hills-Pansol in Calamba, Laguna. The respondent allegedly adopted a scheme to use her parents as "dummies" to involve them in the consistent concealment of her land ownerships and the misdeclaration of their true market values. Furthermore, Cuneta has acquired several motor vehicles including a Suzuki Grand Vitara, Suzuki Jimny, Mitsubishi Colt Lancer, Mitsubishi Pajero and a Yamaha motorbike that were registered under her parents’ names. The RIPS claimed that its investigations showed that her parents did not have the financial means to purchase the said vehicles. The DOF has asked the Ombudsman to impose a six-month preventive suspension on Cuneta during the investigation. If she is found guilty of amassing wealth grossly disproportionate to her income, she will be dismissed from government service. Properties allegedly illegally accumulated by Cuneta will be forfeited and will revert to the government. Finance Undersecretary Carlo Carag said the government would continue to file cases against corrupt officials from the DOF, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and the Bureau of Customs (BOC). A check with real estate sites by GMANews.TV, however, showed that low-end condominiums and "affordable" mass housing are priced at a range of P500,000 to P1.5 million, while luxury properties cost above P100,000. A brand-new Suzuki Grand Vitara costs less than P2 million, the price of a Mitsubishi Pajero is P2.7 million, while a Mitsubishi Colt Lancer is an old model car. GMANews.TV tried to get the side of Cuneta, but could not reach her as of posting time. — DM/RSJ, GMANews.TV