P500K in cash found under table of BIR officer in Zamboanga City

Government agents have arrested an officer of the Bureau of Internal Revenue in Zamboanga City for alleged extortion.

According to John Consulta's report on "24 Oras", the National Bureau of Investigation in Western Mindanao nabbed revenue officer Flora Albao.

A red gift bag containing P500,000 in marked cash was found under her table during an entrapment operation.

The authorities  alleged that Albao charged businesses with high tax assessments to force them into settling the matter with her.

One of them was allegedly asked to pay P300 million but was assured it could be lowered to P2 million in exchange for cash considerations.

“Binibigyan sila ng pagkakataon na i-settle ‘yung napakalaking tax deficiency daw at kung hindi, if-freeze raw yung mga assets nitong mga negosyante," NBI Wemro Acting Regional Director Moises Tamayo said.

"Sobrang sakit dahil mismong sa loob ng BIR office ginagawa itong mga karumal-dumal na gawain,” he added.

(They were supposedly given a chance to settle their huge tax deficiency. If not, the assets of the businessmen would be frozen. It hurts us because these corrupt practices were done inside the BIR office.)

Albao is now facing raps for robbery, extortion and for violating the anti-graft and corrupt practices act.

“Iniimbitahan natin ang iba pang biktima ng revenue officer na ito na magpunta lang sa atin sa NBI para masampahan natin ng kaukulang reklamo at mapanagot sa kaniyang ginawang krimen,” NBI Director Eric Distor said.

(We are inviting those who have been victimized by the revenue officer to seek the help of the NBI so we can file appropriate charges against her.)

GMA News reached out to Albao and the BIR for their statements. —Mel Matthew Doctor/NB, GMA News