BIR examiner in Dipolog City charged for alleged extortion

DIPOLOG CITY––A Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) personnel in this city faces charges for extortion of a businessman.

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Agent-in-Charge Medrobel Ylanan said the suspect, Reynan A. Hechanova, a revenue examiner at BIR’s Revenue District Office 91 in Dipolog, was arrested Jan. 18 while receiving marked money in an entrapment operation.

Ylanan said cases of robbery, extortion, intimidation, violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Government Officials and Employees had been filed against Hechanova, who was out on bail Thursday.

Ylanan asked that the name of the businessman extorted by Hechanova be withheld as they were still doing a follow-up investigation of the incident.

Hechanova’s illicit transaction started when he sent a letter to the businessman in November last year detailing an alleged tax deficiency of P4.5 million, which could go up to P6 million with surcharges and penalties.

When the businessman asked for an adjustment of the tax deficiency, another BIR personnel called him up that the amount could be reduced to P500,000. When he pressed further, Hechanova said it could be brought down to P400,000.

When asked for an order of payment so he could pay the BIR through the bank, the businessman recalled Hechanova’s instruction to “just bring to him the cash before noon on January 18 and they will take care of everything.”

Hechanova said they would not issue a receipt for the P400,000 but instead give a “letter of termination” supposedly as proof the tax deficiency is extinguished, the businessman further recalled.

The businessman said it was at this time that he sensed something was not right and sought the help of NBI.

When he went to the BIR office around noon on Jan. 18 with only P200,000 and promised to pay the balance in the next few days, the businessman recalled a woman telling Hechanova: “tawga ang taas (call somebody up).”

After a while, Hechanova told the businessman that paying on installment is a no-go, forcing him to complete the P400,000 for delivery in the late afternoon of Jan. 18.

“There is a syndicate thriving inside BIR,” the businessman lamented.

Ylanan lauded the businessman for his courage in reporting the irregularities at the BIR Dipolog office.

“I urge other businessmen who have the same experience and problem to come to us,” Ylanan added.

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