PNP-CIDG officials arresting Jonel D. Samontañez, a janitor of BIR-Lipa after the entrapment operation set up by the PNP and the Anti Red Tape Authority (ARTA). The ARTA said in a statement that it received complaints about the suspect’s fixing activities at the BIR branch. (screengrab from ARTA)
A janitor at the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) branch in Lipa City, Batangas was nabbed in an entrapment operation Thursday morning due to fixing.
The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) set up an entrapment operation that arrested Jonel D. Samontañez, 26. following a complaint referred by the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).
The ARTA said the suspect, who is a building attendant under the Janitorial Services of BIR Lipa, pretended to be a member of an office in the agency that issues Certificate of Registration (COR) for business permit.
Samontañez reportedly asked for P5,000 from the undercover agent in exchange of the quick issuance of a COR. He is currently undergoing the booking process before PNP-CIDG in Batangas.
The suspect will be charged for violations of Republic Act No. 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, Revised Penal Code and other issuances.
In a statement, ARTA said its chief, Secretary Jeremiah Belgica is also mulling on issuing a Show Cause Order (SCO) against the head of BIR Lipa to explain the incident. – Rommel F. Lopez