P1-M bounty for BIR exec’s killers

A P1 million cash reward has been offered for any information leading to the arrest of the killers of Jonas Amora, a Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) regional director, who was shot dead in Quezon City, on Monday morning.

The reward was put up by a private individual, according to the Department of Finance which has supervision over the BIR.

In a statement, the BIR condemned the “cowardly” killing of the 55-year-old Amora— head of the agency’s Revenue Region No. 8-Makati City—
who was described as religious, hardworking and without an enemy.

At the same time, it cautioned the public from speculating or making conclusions about the motive behind his death pending the results of the 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 topnotch 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 [was] widely known in the BIR as a dogged workhorse and at the same time a very amiable person. Amora [was] not known to have made enemies in and out of the BIR,” it added.

“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 as he urged all personnel “to be more vigilant in ensuring their safety.”

According to Senior Supt. Guillermo Eleazar, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director, Amora died on the spot after two men on a motorcycle opened fire on his Toyota Innova near the corner of Katipunan (C5) Avenue and Maj. Santos Dizon Street in Quezon City around 5 a.m. on Monday.

Amora’s driver, Angelito Pineda, also suffered gunshot wounds and was reported to be undergoing surgery at Quirino Medical Memorial Center at press time.

PO2 Louie Serbito, case investigator of the QCPD Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said Amora was shot in the face.

The QCPD has formed a special investigation task group to probe the killing, said Senior Insp. Elmer Monsalve, head of the QCPD homicide section. Possible motives could be job-related or personal, he added.

A tricycle driver who was in the area during the shooting told the police that she saw a bloodied Amora in the front passenger seat while Pineda, who was also bloodied, alighted from the van and knelt on the street, looking pained. Pineda later boarded a taxi cab which took him to a hospital, she said.

Responding policemen recovered from Amora’s vehicle cash amounting to P366,755 placed in various envelopes. They also found 10 cartridges from a 9mm firearm.

Eleazar said that based on footage taken from closed circuit television cameras, the motorcycle-riding gunmen trailed Amora’s van after he left his house in Antipolo City on his way to his office in Makati.

Amora’s coworkers were still in shock when they learned of his death.

Security guard Raquel Bicalo said that the victim was a very humble person. “He was very nice to us. We will miss him,” she told the Inquirer.”

Former Anda, Bohol Mayor Metodio Amper who was Amora’s friend since high school, said that he was a very simple and down to earth person.

“He had no enemies as far as I know, he is a very good person; he was able to help a lot of people,” he added.