3 BIR special investigators arrested for extortion

Three special investigators of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) were arrested last week during an entrapment operation in San Juan City for allegedly extorting P600,000 from a restaurant owner.

The National Bureau of Investigation identified the suspects as Arturo Buniol, Gary Anatacio and Edgardo Javier of the BIR’s regional investigation division.

The entrapment operation was conducted based on a complaint forwarded to NBI by Commissioner Greco Belgica of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission.

Belgica said the trio had been investigating a Chinese restaurant in Greenhills, San Juan for possible violations although it had been in operation for just a year.

The suspects claimed that their probe showed the restaurant had a tax liability of P1.2 million.
Suspects demand P600K
Belgica said he was informed by the restaurant owner that the suspects had asked for 50 percent of the P1.2 million. They also advised the owner to hire an accountant.

Belgica added that it was not clear what the P600,000 was for so he posed as an accountant and texted the suspects.

Through a series of text messages, the suspects told him that P75,000 would go to them while the rest of the money would go to “the other side.”

The suspects have been charged with graft in the Office of the Ombudsman.