Ex-BIR official nabbed for alleged extortion

A former Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) official was arrested for allegedly extorting money from companies using his knowledge from his previous job.

According to John Consulta's Friday report on "24 Oras," the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Central Luzon arrested suspect Enrico Adriano in an entrapment operation.

Adriano would approach the companies, introducing himself as a BIR Central Investigation Division member.

“Ipinrisinta niya ang sarili niya na siya na ang aayos for a fee. Dahil dati siyang taga BIR, yung format na mga BIR na letters ang pinapadala niya sa mga taong ito dahil alam niya siya ang tatawagan para ayusin, kaya doon nabuking,” said NBI Central Luzon Assistant Regional Director Noel Bocaling.

(He would present himself as someone who could fix things. Because he was formerly from the BIR, he'd send his victims letters in the BIR format because he knew they would call him to fix things. That's how he got caught.)

Aside from the P2 million marked money that recovered from him, Adriano's cell phone would also be used as evidence as it contained his conversations with his victims.

Bocaling advised the suspect's many victims to come to the NBI Central Luzon Rgional Office where they can look for him or their other investigators. Their office will entertain all walk-ins.

“Bago kayo mag-release ng pera, alamin niyo muna kung totoo ang tax deficiency niyo kasi BIR lang ang nakakaalam niyan,” advised the NBI official.

(Before you release any money, find out if you have a tax deficiency because only the BIR would know that.)

Meanwhile, GMA Integrated News is still trying to get a statement from the suspect, who is currently detained at NBI Bulacan, facing a large-scale Esafa complaint. —  Sherylin Untalan/DVM, GMA Integrated News