BIR warns public vs fake revenue officers

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Internal Revenue warned taxpayers yesterday of fake revenue officers trying to extort money from traders by threatening them that they would be subjected to monitoring by the BIR.

According to the bureau, the “revenue officers” showed fake BIR identification cards and documents.

Deputy Commissioner Nelson Aspe urged taxpayers to report such incidents by calling the BIR’s taxpayer information and education division hotlines 924-3245 or 926-3866. He said taxpayers encountering such persons should ask for identification, photocopy the documents presented, take a photo or focus their surveillance camera on the face of the “revenue officers,” and call for help from village officials or police.

The BIR said that on June 13, Francisco Ortiz was arrested with the help of officials of Barangay 452 in Sampaloc, Manila for allegedly extorting money from a businessman who had the presence of mind to call the BIR when he was presented a fake BIR identification card and a spurious mission order. Ortiz is currently out on bail, but still facing trial for attempted extortion and usurpation of official functions, the BIR said.