Cebu City - The Philippine Information Agency in Region 7 has pledged to support the Department of Finance's (DOF) campaign in strengthening government's anti-corruption investigation efforts within revenue-generating agencies based in the Central Visayas.

Finance Undersecretary for Revenue and Legal Operations Atty. Estela V. Sales bared they need to cleanse the image of revenue-generating agencies such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), which are under the DOF, where perception of corruption is quite high.

The Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS), a unit under the DOF, has the mandate to conduct lifestyle checks, investigate allegations of graft and corrupt practices among DOF personnel and file the necessary administrative and criminal charges against those found with guilty of committing illegal acts and transactions.

Apart from the PIA-7, other agencies that gave their commitment were the Land Transportation Office (LTO-7), Office of the Presidential Assistant for Central Visayas, the Cebu City Registry of Deeds and City Assessor's Office as well as the business sector represented by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and the Cebu Business Club.

Sales expressed optimism that with the commitment of other sister government agencies and the business sector, the fight against graft especially in revenue generating agencies where temptation is high will be given more substance as RIPS has no regional offices.

"If you feel harassed, we have the RIPS," Sales told the business sector represented by CCCI president Edward Gaisano and CBC president Dondi Joseph as she underlined the important participation of the business groups. Sales was referring to any extortion attempts committed by any personnel from the BIR or BOC to businessmen.

The DOF-RIPS likewise signed an agreement with the Police Regional Office (PRO-7) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI-7) to help entrap corrupt personnel and help build cases against them.

Sales however cautioned against mere hearsay in relaying information as the case against alleged corrupt DOF personnel must withstand judicial scrutiny.

Revenue generating agencies are undergoing internal reforms in battling graft in line with the thrust of the Arroyo Administration to wage a war against corruption as job applicants at the BIR undergo integrity check to determine whether he or she is a potential corruptor, according to Sales.

Sales also sought the help of the media for a 'shame campaign' where they publicize the acts of extortion by personnel from the BIR or BOC in order to discourage others to make a similar attempt.

The DOF official however, said it is also unfair to brand BIR and BOC as corrupt agencies as there are a number of personnel who are honest and work hard in the name of public service.