BIR chief refuses comment on reported kidnapping of personnel

July 11, 2019

The Bureau of Internal Revenue ( BIR) on Thursday did not comment on  reported kidnapping incidents of their high-ranking officials and personnel.

In a chance interview with BIR Commissioner Cesar Dulay at the signing of a joint memorandum circular for foreign workers, he said comments on the issue may affect their revenue collection.

“That’s very sensitive issue. I won’t talk about it. That’s a very sensitive issue and will affect the collection,” he told The Daily Manila Shimbun.

On Tuesday, Philippine National Police chief, Police General Oscar Albayalde, confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte ordered them to look into this.

“It’s true that it has reached the Office of the President and the president gave us a directive to seriously look into it,” said Albayalde.

On Thursday, Albayalde said he ordered the deployment of tracking squads to find the people behind these incidents and they are focusing at the National Capital Region where most of these cases happened.

Police Major General Guillermo Eleazar, National Capitol Region director, urged families of the victims to report these incidents.

“We are coordinating with the BIR regarding the other alleged victims. A thorough investigation is needed. We are always calling on the public for clear information and we need a complainant to pursue the case,” Eleazar said in a radio interview. Ella Dionisio/DMS