ZAMBOANGA CITY - A female revenue officer of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is facing charges of robbery with extortion and three other complaints for allegedly extorting the amount of P1-million from a local businesswoman.
National Bureau of Investigation-9 (NBI-9) Director Atty. Moises Tamayo identified the suspect as Revenue Officer IV Flora Sarao Albao.
Aside from extortion, Albao is also charged with violating the Tax Reform Act of 1997, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Albao was arrested during an entrapment operation by NBI-9 agents inside the Bureau of Internal Revenue district office in Zamboanga City on Friday (May 27).
Tamayo said Albao allegedly demanded an amount of P1-million from the businesswoman, a bakery owner, due to the latter’s tax liability of P30-million with the BIR.
“The suspect offered to help the trader by reducing the tax provided she gives her P1-million,” according to Tamayo.
Sporting body cameras, NBI personnel conducted the entrapment operation inside the BIR office where they confiscated the amount of P500,000 from the suspect's possession after the latter's transaction with the businesswoman.