NBI files charges vs. BIR exec nabbed for extortion

The National Bureau of Investigation yesterday filed three criminal charges against a revenue officer of the Bureau of Internal Revenue who was arrested in the act of extorting money last Tuesday.

NBI regional director Medardo De Lemos yesterday charged Omar Mamoncara with violations of Section 2(b) of the Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Direct Bribery under Article 210 of the Revised Penal Code and R.A.6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas.

Mamoncara waived his right to avail of a preliminary investigation and opted that a case will be filed immediately in court to allow him to post bail.

Mamoncara, 54, was arrested inside a department store at the north reclamation area at past 1:00 p.m. last Tuesday while in the act of accepting money from Elenita Maranga.

Mamoncara, a native of Marantaw, Lanao del Sur, demanded P50,000 from Maranga, a real estate broker from Cordova, Cebu, for him to process the deed of sale of a lot that the complainant's clients have purchased in barangay Canjulao, Lapulapu City.

Maranga, in her affidavit, said that Mamoncara was referred by her friend and offered to fix the deed of sale of the lot that her clients, Danny Tan and Caridad YrogYrog, bought from Corazon Gonzales in Canjulao in the amount of P800,000.

Mamoncara, however, asked for grease money from her to be able to process the documents. Using the P10,000 marked money placed in an envelop, Mamoncara was arrested.

Lawyer Jose Hermie Monsanto said that based on their investigation, Mamoncara has also victimized a Chinese-Filipino businessman last week. The revenue officer allegedly offered to facilitate the payment of the businessman's taxes.

Monsanto said the businessman issued two checks amounting to P40,000 supposedly for payment of her taxes but Mamoncara did not pay the check to the BIR and instead rediscounted the checks to a loanshark.

Upon learning about it, the businessman cancelled the payment of the checks, prompting the loanshark to ask for his money back. Mamoncara, however, reportedly refused to pay. Monsanto said that Mamoncara allegedly asked the loanshark to give him a transaction so that he could pay him back. - Fred P. Languido