BIR officer nabbed for extortion

MANILA, Philippines - A Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) officer was arrested for allegedly trying to extort money from a firm to settle a tax liability, the National Bureau of Investigation said yesterday.

Thelma Binuya, 53, assigned at the BIR Revenue District Office in Caloocan City, was charged with robbery-extortion and graft after she reportedly received marked money on Nov. 16 from Joselito Ramos, president and general manager of Sinusoidal Electrical Support, Inc.

She allegedly demanded P100,000 to help Ramos have his firm’s tax liability cut from P2.4 million to P.5 million as part of a compromise agreement.