BIR apologizes to legless PWD who was barred entry for wearing shorts

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has issued an apology to the person with disability (PWD) born without legs who was barred from entering its district office in Calbayog City for wearing shorts.

In a social media post that went viral, Nancy Torrelino Boroc detailed how she was denied entry to do transaction on behalf of her sister by a guard at the BIR Calbayog office as she was wearing a pair of shorts and slippers, which are prohibited under the supposed new notice issued by the office.

"The Bureau of Internal Revenue had profoundly expressed its apologies towards Ms. Boroc for the inconvenience it has brought her and will be more sensitive to the rights of PWDs," the BIR said in a statement.

The taxman clarified that the dress code notice was intended for the BIR employees of the said district office, and not the public.

"On the other hand, Revenue District Officer Vicente J. Tady of BIR Calbayog asserted that Ms. Boroc was not denied entry, but her companion who was wearing shorts and slippers," the BIR said.

Nevertheless, the BIR said the district officer has already apologized to Boroc through the TV program of broadcaster Raffy Tulfo last Friday.

The BIR said that the security guard involved in the said incident was already relieved and the notice on the dress code was already taken down.

The district officer in Calbayog City has also talked with Chairman Ceasar Delos Santos of the Office on PWD Affairs on August 7 to explain what truly transpired during the said incident and apologized for whatever misunderstanding that happened between the security guard and Boroc, the BIR said.

"Further, grievances and allegations coursed through the different complaint channels particular to this issue were already answered and clarified in a formal letter-reply addressed directly to the concerned complainant," it said. — MDM, GMA News