NBI probes revenue bureau exec, staff

THE National Bureau of Investigation is conducting lifestyle check on two Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) personnel, including a ranking official, for alleged unexplained wealth.

Lawyer Ferdinand Lavin, NBI–Bacolod Chief, said that his office has received orders from the NBI head office in Manila to conduct a lifestyle check on the two BIR personnel based in the city.

These are only cases being investigated in Bacolod City, he said.

Lavin said he cannot reveal the identities of the two yet because the initial stage of the investigation should be observed with utmost discretion.

Lavin said that he has already assigned the case to one of his agents who will send requests for records of people under investigation to different agencies by next week.

"As far as gathering their records is concerned, we would rather have it discreetly done first," he said.

When asked whether the NBI has jurisdiction over the case, Lavin said that while the case was referred to the NBI, the Office of the Ombudsman can also conduct an investigation on the same case.

"There is ago signal from our central office so we have to conduct an investigation," he said. "This is just a lifestyle check, but eventually this will lead to anti-graft investigation."

He said so far they have covered at least 25 percent of the investigation.

He said the NBI findings will then be referred to the Ombudsman and, even if the Ombudsman were to conduct fact finding inquiries, it can continue to ask the NBI to go on with its investigation for additional evidence.