Despite the business crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR filed tax evasion charges worth P167 million against five companies and their key officers as well as two other business operators based in Metro Manila.

Revenue Deputy Commissioner for Operations Arnel Guballa said they have been intensifying enforcement activities to raise more money and help fight the pandemic.
In separate criminal complaints submitted to the Department of Justice, the corporate respondents were named as Design Index of Sun Valley, Paranaque City; Kreative Concept of Baclaran, Paranaque; Laurasia Realty of Ayala Alabang, Muntinlupa City; Vacation Specialist Group, Paranaque; and XJJ Customs Brokerage and Forwarders of Multinational Village, Paranaque.
The two business operators were Ricardo del Rosario, owner of Gladwin General Merchandising/Ministop of Dominga St., Pasay City, and Maria Theresa Flores, operator of EMF Trucking of Ibayo Tipas, Taguig City.
The biggest deficiency tax assessment of more than P125 million was slapped against Laurasia Realty.
South NCR Revenue Regional Director Glen Geraldino said he recommended the inclusion of the said taxpayers in the Run-After-Tax-Evaders program after they allegedly ignored all assessment, collection, and enforcement efforts.