Two BIR officials dismissed

CEBU, Philippines – Two Bureau of Internal Revenue officials were dismissed from service after they were administratively found guilty of grave misconduct by the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

The anti-graft office upheld its January 18, 2006 decision that ordered the dismissal from service of BIR intelligence division chief Bonifacio Ybañez and intelligence officer 3 Francis Mercado.

The Ombudsman-Visayas denied the respondents' motion for reconsideration for lack of merit. In the June 11, 2010 decision approved by overall deputy ombudsman Mark Jalandoni, the anti-graft body ruled that the respondents failed to present sufficient arguments and evidence to warrant the reversal of the earlier findings.

The Ombudsman has ordered BIR Commissioner Lilian Hefti to immediately implement the dismissal order including all the accessory penalties as provided for by law.

Ybañez together with Edgar Palgan, who is already deceased, were arrested on August 2, 2005 during an entrapment operation.

Leonila Montero of Alona Tropical Beach Resort in Bohol accused them of extortion. Montero has a pending tax payable of P200,000 but the respondents offered to reduce the amount for a fee.

The unofficial transaction between Montero and the respondents ensued with the latter demanding P60,000. The complainant was able to haggle and reduce the amount to P30,000.

An entrapment operation ensued resulting to the arrest of Ybañez and Palgan. Mercado was not arrested during the entrapment but according to the anti-graft body the evidence linking him to the transaction was overwhelming. (FREEMAN)