Two of their cohorts remain at large, authorities say
(Eagle News)–Authorities have arrested two Bureau of Internal Revenue officials for the alleged extortion of P75 million, but their two alleged cohorts remain at large.
The suspects, identified as Alfredo Pagdilao Jr., 58, chief assessment officer at BIR-Pasig; Agripina Vallestero, 61, revenue officer; were nabbed in a joint entrapment operation conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission on Saturday, July 20.
Their alleged cohorts were identified as Rufo Ranario and Michelle dela Torre.
An NBI statement said the operation was conducted following a tip several BIR officials were demanding P160 million from a telecommunications company to settle a supposed tax deficiency in March.
Prior to the operation, a PACC official who was introduced as an official of the telecommunications company was told by Pagdilao in a meeting that the amount was merely 10 percent of the P1.6 billion the company supposedly owed the government.
After negotiations, the amount was reduced to P75 million, with Pagdilao asking further for ten cellphones .
According to the NBI, Pagdilao and Vallestero were arrested after they received the marked money.
It was unclear what the roles of Ranario and Dela Torre were, but the NBI said they are, like Vallestero and Pagdilao, facing plunder, graft and corruption charges, among others.
PACC Chair Dante Jimenez said the arrest was proof of the administration’s seriousness in fighting corruption at all levels of government.
The arrest took place days before President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address, in which he railed against corruption and illegal drugs.