Ombudsman to intensify lifestyle checks on BIR, Customs officials

Office of the Ombudsman main building. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman said Friday it would intensify its lifestyle checks on officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in a bid to eradicate corruption.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla noted that BOC and BIR are agencies mandated to collect money used to construct public infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and roads.

“That money belongs to the Filipino people. It does not belong to the officer who collects it,” he said during the town hall dialogue with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. 

Remulla said they received reports that there were collectors who allegedly ask for extra money from businesses, which is more than what should be collected from them.

He said these collections lacked receipts. 

“Bawat pisong binabayad sa estado ay dapat may resibo. Ang bayad na walang resibo ay hindi buwis; corruption ‘yan,” Remulla said.

“Sa ilan sa mga ulat na ito, mas malaki pa ang walang resibo kaysa sa may resibo. Isipin ninyo ‘yan, mas malaki ang napupunta sa bulsa ng iilan kaysa sa kaban ng bayan,” he added.