By: VANNE TERRAZOLA • JUN RAMIREZ
An official of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) was gunned down by motorcycle-riding suspects in broad daylight yesterday while about to report for work in West Avenue, Quezon City.
Police identified the victim as Albert Enriquez, chief of the tax assessment section of the BIR District Office No. 28 which covers the Novaliches area.
Enriquez, a 28-year-old BIR veteran, had just parked his sports utility vehicle near the BIR RDO 28 office when a lone gunman approached him and shot him once in the head at about 7:30 am. He died on the spot
The shooting was captured by closed circuit television (CCTV), a copy of which was obtained by the police.
The suspects, both wearing helmets, waited for the victim at the parking lot. As soon as Enriquez got out of his vehicle to get his uniform in the backseat, the back rider casually walked toward him and fired.
Both suspects fled toward EDSA.
Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar said they have alerted police units around the area to hunt down the suspects.
It marked the second time a BIR official was gunned down in QC.
Last Nov. 21, BIR-Makati regional director Jonas Amora was ambushed at the corner of Topside Road and C-5 Katipunan Avenue. The alleged gunman was arrested on Dec. 23.
Eleazar said they will investigate if Enriquez’s murder is related to Amora’s case.
Enriquez, a 49-year-old certified public accountant, was described by revenue officials and colleagues as “jovial” and “very strict.”
He was transferred last year to Novaliches revenue district office. He was previously assigned to BIR’s tax fraud division.
Insiders said the murders of BIR officials were work-related, saying it was a case of “damn if you do and damn if you don’t” situation.
They said if a tax collector is honest and strict he is likely to get the ire of dishonest taxpayers, but if he sides with them he faces sanctions from his superiors.
Enriquez finished his accountancy course at the Philippine School of Business Administration in 1988 and MBA in 2004.