By Tracy Cabrera
Following reports of excessive fees being collected from businesses, the Office of the Ombudsman announced that it will intensify its lifestyle checks on officials of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Bureau of Customs (BoC).
The announcement came in the wake of several reports over some revenue collectors taking tariff and taxes without receipts and more than what is allowed by law.
According to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla, they have been receiving reports (and complaints) about these abuses, so it is necessary for them to verify their veracity and put a stop to it.
“Let us make this clear: There is no legitimate payment to the government that has no receipt. Every peso paid to the government should have a receipt. Payments with no receipts are not taxes. That is corruption,” Remulla strongly pointed out during a town hall dialogue with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).
He added that payments with no receipts were even higher than payments that had receipts, based on some reports to his office.
“The amount that goes to the pockets of some individuals is higher than the amount that goes to the public,” he cited while clarifying that he understands why many business owners choose to pay these exorbitant fees.
He then urged them not to consider such payments as part of their usual expenditures because continuing to pay these fees only reinforces a system of bribery and extortion.
“If we are to change this, the government needs to ensure the safety of those who decline to pay; that is our job. Businesses also need to have the strength to stop paying these fees. That is your part,” he asserted.
