Going after ill-gotten wealth of corrupt officials

EDITORIAL

Uncovering and recovering ill-gotten wealth of corrupt government officials had been an exercise in futility over the years given government’s bureaucratic maze and red tape.

But this could be done as shown by a legal decision involving a former police general. 

The Sandiganbayan has ordered the forfeiture of the assets of a former police general worth P15.8 million that were found to be ill-gotten from 1991 to 2004.

In a 53-page decision promulgated on July 1 obtained by reporters, the anti-graft court’s seventh division said the properties as well as frequent trips abroad of former police Traffic Management Group director Danilo Mangila and his wife were disproportionate to his salary as a police officer and his other lawful source of income at the time.

Mangila, who also served as former director of the Soccsksargen police, was also assistant secretary of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group during the Arroyo administration.

The court ordered the forfeiture of Mangila’s three lots in Quezon City and one each in Calamba, Laguna; Trece Martires, Cavite, and Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, with aggregate value of P9.103 million.

Also covered by the forfeiture order are a 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle, a Toyota Rav 4 and a Hyundai Starex van among other motor vehicles with a total value of P7.375 million. 

The court said Mangila also failed to show that he and his wife had the means to go on trips to Australia, France, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, South Korea and the United States.

Investigation showed that Mangila earned only P2.006 million in salaries and P1.0003 in allowances from 1991 to 2004.

“Mangila’s lawful income…was grossly insufficient to finance the acquisition of his assets in the aggregate amount of P15,806,403.65,” the court said.

The Sandiganbayan gave no weight to  Mangila’s claim that he had additional income from his car buy and sell and rental businesses in Quezon City and a karaoke restaurant in San Pablo, Laguna.

It cited a certification from the Quezon City business permit and licensing office stating that no business permit was issued in Mangila’s name.

Graft probers said Mangila’s SP 2000 Restaurant and Videoke also reported losses totaling P3.64 million from 2000 to 2004.

The court said there is no law prohibiting a government employee from acquiring properties, but it must be proven that the properties are “fruits of his legitimate toils.”

Another division of the Sandiganbayan had earlier acquitted Mangila of six perjury cases over alleged misdeclarations in his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth from 1998 to 2004. 

Let more cases of corruption be exposed and have more corrupt officials face the law.