ZAMBOANGA CITY – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed four cases against an official of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) here Monday.
NBI Regional Director Moises Tamayo named the respondent of the cases as Revenue Officer IV Flora Albao of the BIR’s Revenue District Office-93A (RDO-93A).
Tamayo said the cases filed against Albao are for violations of Article 294 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended; Tax Reform Act of 1997; Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; and, Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Offices and Employees.
Albao, who is under temporary custody of the NBI, declined to issue a statement.
Tamayo said Albao was arrested in an entrapment around 1:55 p.m. Friday at the office of RDO-15 in Barangay Zone 4.
“The entrapment operation was launched after a businesswoman filed a complaint of harassment (against the suspect),” Tamayo said in an interview.
At first, Tamayo said the businesswoman received a notice indicating she had PHP30.7 million tax liabilities and was given five days to report to the RDO-93A.
The businesswoman went twice to the BIR office and was ordered to submit pertinent documents so her taxes can be reduced.
On her second visit, the businesswoman was told by the suspect that she needs to pay her tax liabilities of PHP30.7 million “or else her assets will be frozen."
It was then at this point when Albao allegedly made an offer to reduce the tax liabilities of the businesswoman provided the latter will pay PHP1 million “SOP” or standard operating procedure, Tamayo said.
Out of fear, Tamayo said the businesswoman went home and returned but only managed to raise PHP500,000 which she handed over to Albao.
“She (businesswoman) was given a grace period to pay the remaining amount of PHP500,000 but the complainant, upon sensing she is being extorted, decided to report to our office,” Tamayo said.
He said the suspect was caught “in flagrante delicto” during the sting operation. (PNA)
