Athena C. Dans

The Department of Finance (DOF) filed a complaint against Athena Dans, chief Customs officer assigned to the Manila International Container Port, for allegedly amassing assets worth P20 million for the past 25 years.

Officials said Dans owned several luxury vehicles and a resort worth P15 million despite earning only P250,000 a year.

The DOF said Dans will face charges for violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Dans is married to Alvin Dans, former undersecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Athena Dans, chief Customs operations officer of the MICP's Informal Entry Division, is accused of violating Section 2 of Republic Act 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and a complaint of perjury for misdeclaring her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

According to the RIPS, Dans, who has been working at the Bureau of Customs since 1990, had managed to increase her net worth from P261,000 in 1990 to P20 million in 2005.

RIPS said that despite her latest gross annual salary of only P250,000, Dans also acquired a Mitsubishi Lancer sedan worth P550,000, a Toyota Innova van, a Mitsubishi Adventure, a Hyundai Starex, an Isuzu Crosswind, a Nissan Frontier pickup, an Isuzu Hi-Lander, a Suzuki Carry and a Honda motorcycle.

Probers said Dans did not include in her SALN the Crosswind, Isuzu Hi-Lander, Suzuki Carry and the Honda motorcycle.

Investigators said records from the Land Transportation Office showed that the undeclared vehicles were registered in the names of Athena C. Dans and her husband Alvin G. Dans.