BIR owns up, apologizes to PWD
Revenue officials in Calbayog City in Samar on Tuesday owned up to mishandling the matter concerning the denial of entry of a person with disability (PWD) and issued a statement apologizing for the insensitivity of one of its personnel.
Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)-Calbayog publicly apologized to Ms. Nancy Torrelino Boroc, a PWD who was at its offices on 6 August on behalf of her sister but was denied entry by a security personnel ostensibly for being improperly dressed.
Boroc, a bilateral amputee, is fully ambulant and walks around in clothing consistent with her missing limbs. She was denied entry on the basis of an alleged office policy barring improperly dressed persons in shorts and slippers from gaining access to BIR offices in Calbayog.
According to Tacloban Regional Director Aynie Mandajoyan-Dizon and OIC-Revenue District Officer (RDO) Vicente Tady of Revenue District Office 87, Calbayog City the security guard involved in the incident has already been relieved and the offending taxpayer notice taken down.
The BIR clarified the notice was intended for BIR employees of the district and not meant for the transacting public.
RDO Tady of BIR Calbayog claimed Boroc was not denied entry although her companion, who was wearing shorts and slippers, was barred entry.
Nevertheless, Tady would later apologize to Boroc in a broadcast interview on 9 August this year.
Tady also met with Chairman Ceasar de los Santos of the Office on PWD Affairs to explain what really happened and apologized for whatever misunderstanding happened between Boroc and the security guard.