Ombudsman orders bribery raps vs BIR employees caught in sting

The Office of the Ombudsman (File photo by NINO JESUS ORBETA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the indictment of two Bureau of Internal Revenue personnel for bribery after they were busted in an entrapment operation last week.

In a June 30 resolution, the Ombudsman said there was probable cause to file charges before the Regional Trial Court against group supervisor Nora Halamani and revenue officer III Abolais Ampa, both assigned at the Revenue District Office 29 in Manila.

The Ombudsman media bureau announced on Tuesday that Halamani and Ampa would be facing charges of direct bribery and violation of Section 7(d) of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, which has prohibited solicitation and acceptance of gifts and favors.

This was after the Ombudsman conducted inquest proceedings against the two officials who were apprehended by the National Bureau of Investigation agents in a June 29 sting.

The complaint stated the two demanded P400,000 in cash “for the boys” in exchange for approved and signed BIR forms which Dealco Farms, Inc., needed to submit to the bank.

The two were arrested after allegedly receiving the bribe on the third floor of the BIR office in Intramuros. Halamani was said to have received a brown envelope full of marked money consisting of four bundles totaling P350,000 and 50 pieces of P1,000 bills.  SFM