Two employees of the Bureau of Internal Revenue – Batangas were arrested last Thursday by the members of the National Bureau of Investigation, after receiving the 800K they asked from a businessman in exchange for the easier processing of his tax payments.

Bad Eggs

The government has been waging an all-out war against corruption, and the country has been feeling the results. More and more services are being offered to the public, and the government agencies have rid of red tape. However, there are still some who continue with their crooked ways. This few bad eggs ruin the reputation of the agency that they work for.

Extortion

In a report from ABS-CBN News, the suspects, who were identified as Menelao Jimenez, a BIR examiner, and Mark Medina, a BIR supervisor were arrested right inside the office of the BIR after they received the money from NBI agents who posed as the businessman’s employees.

NBI are also investigating two more persons of interests which may be connected with the crime.

Bad Reputation

It seems that the two arrested employees have a reputation of extorting money from taxpayers. When they were escorted outside to be brought to the police station for formal charges, the people outside the BIR office cheered in unison.

“Buti nga sa iyo.”

Despite being caught red-handed, the suspect denied the accusation. He said that he was “set-up”. He was not the one who received the money and was confident enough to say that his fingerprints would not be in the bills.

The two BIR employees will be facing multiple charges, including direct bribery, the violation of Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for A Public Official.

It was reported that Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission chairman Greco Belgica personally filed the charges against the two rogue government officials.

 

Source: ABS-CBN News / pinoythinking