LINGAYEN, Pangasinan: The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Region 1 (Ilocos) commended two provincial government employees for immediately reporting the fake electronic certificates authorizing registration (eCAR) for the transfer of properties, which were submitted at the Provincial Assessment Office.

In a letter to Gov. Ramon Guico 3rd, which was read during the flag-raising ceremony, BIR regional director Josephine Virtucio said that the discoveries of the fake eCARs enabled the BIR to collect the proper taxes.

"I am writing to express my sincere appreciation and extend my heartfelt commendation for the outstanding effort and dedication of your employees in the Provincial Assessment Office, particularly Ms. Lilibeth Z. Salazar and Ms. Maria Virginia D. Delos Santos," said Virtucio in her letter.

Salazar is a local assessment operations officer while Delos Santos is a job order employee.

Provincial Assessor Geronimo Abad said that Salazar and Delos Santos immediately doubted the authenticity of the eCARs submitted to them when they noticed that the color and fonts were different from the eCARs that they received in their daily transactions.

"So, they called my attention and I referred the eCARs to the BIR's Revenue District Office in Urdaneta City. When they checked their system, the number in the fake eCARs had been issued to another person," Abad said.

"The fake eCARs were confiscated."

He said Salazar and Delos Santos were given each a certificate of recognition during their regular Monday meeting.

Vice Gov. Mark Ronald Lambino said that what the two provincial government employees did was a demonstration of their integrity.

"So I guess, like I said, integrity in an organization further strengthens our commitment towards bringing the best here in the province," Lambino said.

"I'm sure a lot more in the provincial government, in their own little ways, will be doing the same thing to ensure that we are doing the best thing, and we are doing the fair thing for our province," Lambino added.