Perjury mulled vs Dok Alternatibo BIR lawyer fights back

THE legal officer of the Bureau of Internal Revenue regional office in Davao City held
for alleged robbery extortion by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) denied having committed the crime.
Speaking through his counsel Ramon Edison Batacan,  BIR legal officer Roderick Orallo said he did not go to the meeting to receive the P50,000 allegedly given to him by complainant Edgar Delibo, also known as “Dok Alternatibo,” as compromise payment for tax cases earlier filed by the BIR against Delibo.
Payment should be made to the BIR cashier, he said. Rather Atty. Orallo went there at the behest of his boss, Atty. Pepito Apostol to explain how the cases can be settled amicably, he added. However, Batacan said Delibo made it appear that he gave it to Orallo as bribe money, saying that the money was allegedly forced into the pocket of the BIR lawyer.
This developed as Orallo, through his lawyers, is said to be mulling the idea of filing countercharges against Delibo for perjury and other suits.
Batacan also said the CIDG men, headed in Davao by Sr.Supt. Albert Ignatius Ferro, might have allowed themselves unwittingly to be used by Delibo as a leverage against the BIR people in his tax offenses.The CIDG 11 conducted an entrapment operation against Orallo after Delibo went to the CIDG office to make a complaint.
The CIDG operatives arrested Orallo while allegedly receiving the money from Delibo.
Orallo’s meeting with Delibo at the Apo View Hotel was reportedly with the knowledge of his superior and the Special Investigation Division of the BIR, his counsel said.
This is not unusual because this happens all the time, Batacan was quoted as saying.
 As to the robbery extortion complaint filed by Delibo against Orallo, Batacan said Atty. Orallo is not stupid  to expose himself by committing such a crime in public.
By filing the complaint, Delibo is opening himself to a countersuit, the counsel said, adding that Orallo’s  lawyers are now considering the filing of counter-suits against Delibo, one of which is perjury.
“He lied in his complaint so he’s open to perjury charge,” the lawyer said.
“We are likewise looking into his marketing strategy ‘dok alternatibo’ whether he has made it appear to the general pubic that he is equipped with medical knowledge in alternative medicine, when in truth and in fact he is not a medical doctor, and thus knowingly represents that he possesses the knowledge  and skill of a medical practitioner,” he said.
Orallo’s lawyers will also inquire whether Delibo’s products are duly registered with Bureau of Food and Drugs.
Meanwhile, several BIR officials and employees showed their support for Orallo by visiting him in the CIDG.