The Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission has clarified that former Bureau of Customs-X-ray Inspection Project chief Ma. Lourdes Mangaoang is not yet being subjected to a lifestyle check.
“Just to clarify, BoC Collector V Atty. Maria Lourdes Mangaoang is not yet being subjected to a lifestyle check by PACC,” the agency said in a statement coming from the office of PACC commissioner lawyer Manuelito Luna.
“The unverified letter of a certain complainant will still undergo the usual processing and validation procedure. As of now, the Commission has not taken cognizance of said unverified complaint,” it added.
“Besides, Mangaoang is PACC’s resource person in the P6.8 billion alleged shabu smuggling at the BoC and, hence, we should be more cautious in accepting complaints meant to discredit her.”
PACC also said that even the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chaired by Senator Richard Gordon tapped Mangaoang as a wittness.
The PACC made the statement after it was asked to place Mangaoang under probe for alleged unexplained wealth, lavish lifestyle, excessive assets, and other accumulated ownership that are grossly disproportionate to her salary as a government employee.
In a two-page complaint, Ed Cordevilla, leader of the group calling for public accountability of government officials suspected of having amassed unexplained wealth, said that based on the sworn Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth of Mangaoang for the years 2012-2017, there is no justification on how she could have legally accumulated so much properties had she relied on her salaries alone.
Cordevilla added that as a lawyer, Mangaoang is expected to know the importance of complying with all the required details stated in the SALN.