The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed criminal charges against 21 corporate and individual business operators for alleged serious tax violations.
The offenses ranged from non-payment of taxes to possession of untaxed cigarettes amounting to some P1 billion.
Quezon City Revenue Regional Director Alvin Galanza identified the respondent corporations in his jurisdiction as HDC, Ira General and Security Services, Asuncion Samson Enterprises, Fareal Builders, Ioncom Technologies.
The single proprietors were named as Michael Lee Chan of New Canary Photo; Conchita Tan of Marman Trading and Esterlito Sebastian of Baesa Engineering Machine.
Likewise, Caloocan Revenue Regional Director Gerry Dumayas identified the accused in the region as Nissan-Seiko, GSR I and E, Enviroboard Manufacturing, Mhagga Trade, Alejandro Waste Management, Priority Brokerage, 88 Every Little Things, Ezy Pack, United Paints Specialist and Arthur Tan, a store owner in Valenzuela City.
The two others allegedly caught distributing cigarettes with fake revenue stamps were identified as Meriam Bacalso of JKS Marketing of Iligan City and John Patrick Ong of Isaj Sea Transport of Mandaue City.
BIR prosecutors said key officers of the said companies were also included in the charges for allegedly ignoring notices to settle the tax debts incurred in 2016 and prior years.