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[av_heading heading=’ Former DepEd execs fail lifestyle check’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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Thursday, July 6, 2017
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ILOILO City – A former assistant director of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Region 6, his wife and daughter face forfeiture proceedings.
According to the Office of the Ombudsman, Dr. Jesus Nieves, wife Segundina and stepdaughter Gwendolyn Sola failed a lifestyle check, thus forfeiture proceedings should be in order for their unexplained wealth.
Nieves, now retired, also served as DepEd Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) director. His wife Segundina was a former Education Supervisor in DepEd Region 6 where stepdaughter Gwendolyn also used to be a data controller.
According to the Ombudsman, the combined declared income of the three for years 2005 to 2007 – P1,953,597.50 based on their Statements of Assets Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) – was not proportionate to the wealth they accumulated during such period totaling P10,601,402.50.
The Ombudsman also said the Nieveses had properties not declared in their SALNs:
* commercial lot in Kamuning, Quezon City registered in the name of Segundina in 2006 and valued at P7,600,000
* residential lot in Batasan Hills, Quezon City registered in the name of Gwendolyn also in 2006 valued at P3,500,000; and
* a Toyota Fortuner registered in the name of Gwendolyn worth P1,540,000
Furthermore, according to the Ombudsman, Gwendolyn paid the P1.5-million Toyota Fortuner in cash.
“Clearly these properties are prima facie presumed to have been unlawfully acquired as the amounts thereof are manifestly out of proportion to respondents’ salaries as such public officers,” read part of the Ombudsman Joint Resolution ordering the filing of a petition to initiate forfeiture proceedings against the Nieveses.
The Ombudsman also noted that Dr. Nieves had no registered business interests or other declared legitimate sources of income.
“As such, there is reasonable ground to believe that respondent Nieves committed a violation of Republic Act 1379 (An Act Declaring Forfeiture in Favor of the State Any Property Found to have Been Unlawfully Acquired by any Public Officer or Employee), in conspiracy with his wife and stepdaughter,” the Ombudsman Joint Resolution further read.
Aside from forfeiture proceedings, the Ombudsman also found probable cause against Dr. Nieves for perjury for failing to declare and include the Kamuning property in his 2007 SALN.
The Ombudsman also ordered the filing of charges against Gwendolyn for three counts of violation of Section 8 of Republic Act No. 6713 (Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees) for failing to file her 2007 to 2009 SALNs.
The Nieveses could not be reached for comment as of this writing./PN
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