BIR officer’s graft conviction reversed

The Sandiganbayan has reversed its earlier verdict on a Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) officer who was accused of demanding a P60,000 bribe from a resort owner.

The court’s the Special First Division said that the antigraft court could not reaffirm his conviction on the basis of the Cebu-based BIR officer handing out a calling card with his bank account number to Alona Tropical Beach Resort owner Leonila Montero.

The BIR officer Francis Mercado argued that he mistakenly gave to Montero a calling card that was meant for his brother. The court said that while Mercado’s reason may be flimsy, it was not implausible.

The prosecution also failed to prove their accusation against Mercado. —KATHLEEN DE VILLA