BIR chief unfazed by death threats

Unfazed by threats, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Jose Mario Buñag declared yesterday the bureau will continue the crackdown against tax evaders.

Buñag made the declaration following the murder of the wife of a top BIR official in Quezon City last Wednesday which police had linked to the anti-tax evasion efforts of the official as the possible motive of the killing.

Evelyn Guballa, wife of BIR National Investigation Division chief Arnel Guballa, was fatally shot while attending a prayer-meeting in Barangay Sto. Cristo.

A pastor who attempted to shield the victim from the gunman was also killed in the incident.

"We will not relax or moderate or compromise our investigation of cases of tax evasion in spite of retaliation, assassination, attempts of assassination or threats of physical assaults against our men and women in the bureau," Buñag said.

The BIR chief vowed to reach the P675 billion collection target for this year while implementing reforms to weed out corrupt personnel and grant incentives to efficient employees.

Buñag had launched an effective campaign designed to identify and charge big-time tax evaders.

The program resulted in the filing of numerous cases against many business firms and individuals suspected of filing incorrect tax returns. — Perseus Echeminada