BIR-16 Mustapha Gandarosa

October 26, 2008

This is a letter sent by BIR-16 Mustapha Gandarosa to media outlets here in Cagayan de Oro City after local businessmen criticized him and initiated what they dubbed as “One Day” protest against this embattled director. Local businessmen for one day closed down their shops, department stores, commercial establishments, etc. to manifest their call to have the revenue director step down from his government job. This letter is published to also give Director Gandarosa his chance to explain things to the public. - editors

Dear Maam/Sir:

This has reference with the recent publications against my person as regional director of BIR District Office 16.

Please be informed that when I assume office as regional director of BIR district office 16 in June 2006, the bureau was at the tail end as far as tax generation is concerned. Few months later and due to my reforms and effective and equitable tax administration the regional office was recognized by the BIR National Office as among the Top Three record holder in tax collection. This is a recognition that I have kept for three consecutive years.

My bureau was included in the top 3 Top performing BIR district offices for the last three years because of our commitment to help President Gloria Arroyo’s campaign to collect more taxes thru legal means in order that our government can finance more projects as well as give more social services to the people. We have maintained our yearly collection target and even exceeded them because we feel the government needs to implement more projects. We also religiously follow orders from the national office to conduct surveillance on private companies and corporations that we suspect are not declaring their daily sales in good faith. Our efforts proved we are heading to the right path because we have increased our collections tremendously and even allowing the bureau to land in the Top Three spot for best performing districts.

Unfortunately, our massive tax collection efforts to collect more taxes were also perceived by some local businessmen as a threat to their business operations to deny the truth of them mis-declaring their real taxes. Thus, some group of businessmen who saw me as a threat to their business also started maligning me and accusing me of “harassing” them which I also vehemently denied. These are all pure fabricated allegations to discredit my reputation to the national office and to the people of the region where I served. They even wrote the president and told her of so many things which I did not do. I hope God will forgive them and guide them to the right path. They should do the right thing. If they have evidence that some of my men are undesirables and have accepted bribes why should they subject me to trial by publicity when we have courts that could hear their allegations? We have proper forums that will conduct fair trial. All I need is fair and justice and not trial by publicity.

Besides, how can I become a corrupt official when I don’t gamble, womanized or even have other vices? I don’t even socialize. I don’t need to ask financial help because our family has been blessed already even when I was a kid. I grew up with my parents who have fortunes in life.

Prior to my appointment as regional director of the BIR district office 16, I have worked hard for 13 years in the Middle East based in Riyadh and Jeddah all in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as Revenue Attache and I was paid in dollars. I have even kept a dollar account in Saudi Arabia until now enough to enjoy the remainder of my life.

For many decades of BIR district office #16, those previous officials have not even bothered to put their own office. It was only in my time that I had successfully established the biggest BIR building in Mindanao thru a lease-purchase agreement with Land Bank. This is because I am committed and dedicated to serve the administration of Pres. Gloria Arroyo.

It was also during my time that the region received an award from the national office recognizing our clients as outstanding taxpayers like the Bukidnon government represented by Governor Jose Ma. Zubiri and UKC Builders represented by Mr and Mrs Dodong Uy. This is first to happen that the national office has recognized two outstanding taxpayers from Mindanao.

In Gingoog City, where I was also previously assigned I have increased collection up to 127 percent in the first year of my assignment. After two years I was sent to Bukidnon to institute reforms in tax collection. From a mere collection of 33 million I have increased them to more than a hundred million pesos. Records in the office would show that I have increased up to 339 percent collection.

Now in Cagayan de Oro, I have also instituted tax reforms because the region’s collection was a problem. As a dedicated servant I even stopped our Christmas party, anniversary celebration, our monthly staff meeting and even my birthday celebration so that my name would not be tarnished and used by my personnel in solicitations to protect my integrity. We transferred to our new and world class BIR building with no celebration at all as we remain to be of low profile.

These are my proud legacies that I want people in the region to remember me. I am a dedicated servant and I cannot allow that my detractors would only destroy my good reputation, just because they don’t want to pay their taxes fairly.

I hope this letter would be enough to enlighten you and give you more information about me so that you can also consider fair writing in your publications in the name of balance reporting and commentaries.

More Power and God Bless You.

(SGD) MUSTAPHA GANDAROSA
Regional Director, BIR district office 16
Cagayan de Oro City

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