A Taxpayer's Courage

We may get a lot of definition from the word courage. To me, courage is the power to stand up against all odds when you know you have to do it. One thing remains the same: it is inside all of us.

This taxpayer's level of courage, Mr. Adolf Sheerer is higher than the courage of others who keep silent on themselves witnessing graft and corruption. He did his action not for himself alone as well as for other taxpayers to avoid having the same experience in transacting with an institution in which his public trust has eroded.



This is being published to recognize a taxpayer who stood up with his moral courage and not to demerit or denounce any people, office or institution. No exemplary act should pass without being acknowledged and appreciated. And we applause Mr. Sheerer, may he be an example to everyone doing what is right and appropriate as a Filipino.

Video courtesy of: http://www.gmanews.tv/show/imbestigador

Ombudsman @ Sofitel

see more picures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/53734553@N08/show/

With an experience of filing two complaints and attending one mediation, I decided to attend the Taxpayers' First Seminar organized by ETM-Tax Agent Office, Inc. last September 2, 2010 at the Sofitel Hotel in Manila for my steadfast belief for that much awaited change in our bureaucracy. Atty. Paterno Alarcon, BIR's resident Ombudsman and Mr. Emelino T. Maestro founder of Auditor ng Bayan served as the speakers for this purpose.

The Office of the Ombudsman of the Philippines is empowered by the 1987 Saligang Batas ng Pilipinas to safeguard the government and government-related institutions and corporations from corruption and dispense justice in the case of such offenses. This supreme law gave the said office a monopoly in the filing of criminal information against government officials with a salary rank of Grade 27 and up. It is also a law that gave the Ombudsman the power to hear and decide administrative charges against all government employees. 

It is trivial to know that this office will accept all complains in any form, and any manner to probe on reported erring government employee contrary to my belief before that complains must be in formal written form.  

Below is Ombudsman's Hotline for easy reference.

OMB Hotline:     9262-OMB (9262-662)


It is true that real change won’t happen overnight, we need more patience and more vigilance. Deep within me, this simple act of educating myself to gain more knowledge on how I could involve myself on transforming our already decaying system will add spark to the light of patriotism and nationalism of other Filipinos. Amidst in wishful thinking that soon, more Filipinos will open up their eyes and take charge to stand up and fight for the truth, righteousness and morality to reign in this country. Please do this not for ourselves but for our children's children. 

Article Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/insights/09/03/10/revisiting-ombudsman-law