Slain BIR-Makati head was a ‘top-notch tax collector’

Scene of the crime operatives of the PNP examine the Toyota Innova where BIR regional director Jonas Amora was shot dead by gunmen at the corner of Major Santos Dizon Street and Katipunan (C5) Avenue in Quezon City, Monday morning, Nov. 21, 2016. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

MANILA — The Bureau of Internal Revenue condemned on Monday the killing of an official whom the country’s biggest tax-collection agency described as religious, hardworking, a top-notch tax collector and without an enemy.

In a statement, the BIR described as “cowardly” the fatal shooting of regional director Jonas Amora of the agency’s Revenue Region No. 8-Makati City, along Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City, Monday morning.

The BIR cited reports that Amora sustained multiple gunshot wounds following a “fusillade of gunfire from unknown assailants who were riding a motorcycle in-tandem.”

The BIR nonetheless cautioned the public from speculating or jumping to conclusions on the motive behind Amora’s death amid an ongoing police investigation.

“Amora, a certified public accountant and religious person, rose from the ranks starting his revenue service as a revenue examiner until his appointment as top honcho of the BIR’s Makati region,” the BIR said.

“His stature as a dedicated public servant backstopped by his consistent top-notch collection performance and administration of the revenue region of Quezon City spurred his appointment to manage the country’s top financial and business center of Makati. He is widely known in the BIR as a dogged workhorse and at the same time a very amiable person. Amora is not known to have made enemies in and out of the BIR,” the agency said.

“The shooting incident will not deter the BIR from doing its work if the intention was to sow fear among BIR employees,” Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar R. Dulay said, even as the BIR chief still urged all personnel “to be more vigilant in ensuring their safety.”

BIR Deputy Commissioner Nestor S. Valeroso added that BIR employees should “not back down and even work harder, threats notwithstanding.”

“The Revenuers Gun Club Inc. and the BIR Employees Association also condemned the killing and lambasted the perpetrators of the crime for their dastardly act. Both groups vowed support for the BIR’s action on the resolution of the case,” according to the BIR.  SFM