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[av_heading heading=’NBI hauls BIR exec to court for ‘bribery’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY CYRUS GARDE
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Sunday, March 19, 2017
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BACOLOD City – An examiner for the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in this city was charged for alleged bribery.
Revenue Officer 1 Julie Hernaez was also accused of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed the charges at the Hall of Justice on March 16.
The Regional Investigation Division of the BIR will also look into Hernaez, said Revenue Region No. 12 director Eduardo Pagulayan Jr.
Hernaez may be dismissed from the government service if found guilty of the charges, Pagulayan said.
But the charges came after the NBI arrested Hernaez during an entrapment around 10:30 a.m. on March 15, only to release her by afternoon.
Hernaez, who works for the BIR Revenue District Office – Bacolod’s Assessment Section, allegedly asked P125,000 cash in exchange for the release of a tax form needed by JP Ramos Trading Corp.
Special Investigator William De Arca Jr. said the company acquired the tax form for the recomputation of its tax dues because of a discrepancy in the initial computation.
Genevieve Buenaflor, the company’s operations manager, dealt with Hernaez and sought help from the NBI.
Agents led by De Arca caught Hernaez in her office on Jocson P. Henares Extension in Barangay Taculing after she handed the tax form to an undercover agent in exchange for a P100,000 check and P25,000 cash.
But De Arca said they freed Hernaez by afternoon after her lawyer told the NBI they already posted bail in court for the BIR official’s release./PN
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