The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered the filing of charges against two officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) assigned at Revenue District Office 29 in Manila. Facing charges of Direct Bribery and violation of Section 7 (d) of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees (Republic Act No. 6713) are Nora Halamani (Group Supervisor) and Abolais Ampa (Revenue Officer III).
In its Resolution dated 30 June 2017, the Ombudsman conducted inquest proceedings against the two BIR officials who were entrapped on 29 June 2017 by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). According to the complaint, respondents demanded P400,000.00 in cash “for the boys” in exchange for approved and signed BIR payment forms. Halamani and Ampa were tasked to handle the tax liabilities of Dealco Farms Inc. and demanded the payment of money in exchange for the forms which the tax payer needed to submit to the bank.
The duo was arrested by the NBI after receiving the bribe money inside the third floor of the BIR office in Intramuros. Halamani received the brown envelope containing the marked money which consisted of four bundles amounting to P350,000.00 and 50 pieces of P1,000.00 bills.
Direct Bribery under Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code is committed by a public officer who accepts the gift in consideration of an act which does not constitute a crime, and the offender executed the act which is connected with the performance of official duties. On the other hand, Section 7(d) of R.A. No. 6713 prohibits public officials from soliciting or accepting, directly or indirectly, any gift, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in course of their regular duties or in connection with any operation being regulated by, or any transaction which may be affected by the functions of their office. ###