Manila fake tax collectors now hunted

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza ordered yesterday Senior Superintendent Ernesto Ibay, newly appointed chief of the Western Police District Special Operations Group (WPD-SOG), to go after fake revenue inspectors who have been making the rounds of business establishments in the city.

"Go after these unscrupulous individuals who have been victimizing business establishments in Manila. I want them caught and charged. Aside from being patently illegal, their activities tend to dampen business activity in the city," the mayor ordered.

Atienza issued the directive after receiving complaints from businessmen that "inspectors" have gone to their establishments purportedly to look at their books of accounts.

The fake inspectors are even armed with bogus documents, including fake official receipts, which they attempt to use in collecting "tax payments" from business establishments.

He also cautioned Manila City Treasurer Liberty Toledo, who also brought to his attention the said illegal practice, to be very careful about issuing Letters of Authority to her inspectors, and directed Toledo and Ibay to coordinate with each other in going after fake inspectors.

"I am calling on business establishments not to open their books of accounts to inspectors unless they are covered with a Letter of Authority specifying that they are authorized to conduct inspection of books in that specific area. We have not issued carte blanche authorizations to anyone," Atienza cautioned businessmen.

Atienza had earlier prohibited inspectors from the City Treasurer’s Office from conducting inspections of the books of accounts of business establishments unless they have a valid Letter of Authority.

He also advised businessmen to immediately call his office at 527-5028 or the WPD Special Operations Group at 527-0913 and 527-4913 and report any attempt by "inspectors" who are not covered by the proper Letter of Authority to inspect their books.