Thursday, February 21, 2008 NBI probes BIR mess By Annabelle L. Ricalde
THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) stepped into the feud between Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)-Northern Mindanao Regional Director Mustapha Gandarosa and his legal officer, lawyer Nashrollah Conding, Wednesday.
The NBI agents went to the regional office of the BIR at the Trinidad building in Yacapin Street to act on the complaint of Conding.
In his complaint to the NBI, Conding said Gandarosa allegedly ordered BIR personnel to search his office for bladed weapons.
NBI agent in-charge Froilan Gragedo confirmed there was indeed a break-in at the office of Conding in the BIR regional office.
"It was forcibly entered kasi naka-locked `yun pero nasira," Gragedo said.
Gragedo, however, made it clear that they are still studying if a criminal case would be filed against Gandarosa.
He said they are still waiting for the police blotter report filed by Conding on the ransacking incident.
Gandarosa still is unavailable for interview despite efforts by Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro to get his side of the story.
His lawyer, Frederico Gapuz, said they are filing a criminal case against Conding for "besmirching the reputation" of Gandarosa.
"Conding is the troublemaker at the BIR regional office not Gandarosa," Gapuz said.
Conding said P200,000 worth of jewelries, a walkman, and mobile phones were taken by BIR employees when they made the search last week.
He provided reporters with copies of a BIR memorandum dated February 13, 2008 and allegedly signed by Gandarosa ordering the chief of the Administrative Division "to enter the premises" of the office of Conding "to search such bladed weapons, seize them, make an inventory of them and issue receipt for such seizure."
The order was supposed to be carried out "immediately."
"It is observed that lawyer Nasrollah Conding has been keeping several bladed weapons in his office. In view of the threats he uttered before, and in order to guard the safety of this office, the administrative case is hereby directed to enter his office," the memorandum allegedly signed by Gandarosa said.
Conding also gave reporters copies of the receipt of the search signed by Wahab Alawi, officer in charge-chief of the BIR Administrative Division.
The receipt dated February 14, 2008 said Alawi have in his custody personal belongings of Conding -- a kitchen knife, a sword, a spear and a small Axus --"for temporary safekeeping."
Noraldin Macaponggis, intelligence officer, and Monib Dimalomping, chief of the BIR Special Investigation Division, also signed the receipt.
"Korte ba siya (Gandarosa) para mag-isyu og search warrant (Is he the court that he can issue a search warrant)?" Conding said.
