The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed charges of grave coercion, falsification, grave misconduct and other violation of customs laws against a ranking official of the Bureau of Customs for “insufficiency of evidence.”
In a 16-page resolution, graft investigation and prosecution officer Leilani Marquez absolved customs enforcement group deputy commissioner Arnel Alcaraz and three other customs officials in connection with the supposed illegal seizure of plywood shipments at the Port of Manila in 2016.
Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales approved athe dismissal order penned by Marquez and two other prosecution officers Bonifacio Mandrilla and Fatima Kristine Franco.
Also cleared of the charges were lawyer Rhea Gregorio, Disodado Moreno and Lieza Bernasol.
“Wherefore, the present administrative and criminal complaints are dismissed,” the resolution read.
Marquez ruled in favor of Alcaraz, saying he just acted to the best of his judgment to protect the Bureau of Customs when he issued an alert order over plywood shipments in October 2016.
