Five persons were charged in a criminal complaint filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly selling smuggled and untaxed vape products in Binondo, Manila.
The complaint filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Tuesday, Dec. 13, carries with it P1.2 billion in civil liabilities, including fines and penalties.
The BIR named those charged as Wei Feng Bao and Jimy Go of Tap Fog Philippines, Christina M. Poa of Rocket Bull Race Marketing, Sandoval Severino Briones of SBS Motorcycle Parts and Accessories, and Bibiano P. Lesaca.
“I have this serves yet another warning to those who think that they can continue to evade the payment of their taxes,” BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. said in a statement.
“We are hands-on and focused in our job, and we take this very seriously,” Lumagui said.
A copy of the complaint was not available as of posting.
The BIR said the respondents have been “charged with violations of Republic Act No. 11346, which is an Act Increasing the Excise Tax on Tobacco Products, Imposing Excise Tax on Heated Tobacco Products and Vapor Products, and Increasing the Penalties for Violations of Provisions on Articles Subject of Excise Tax, as well as breaching the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.”
It also said “the respondents are likewise facing a civil case deemed instituted in the criminal complaint, in the aggregated amount of P1.2 billion, inclusive of fines and penalties.”
“The criminal complaints came as a direct result of a previous raid, wherein then-BIR Deputy Commissioner (now BIR Commissioner) Atty. Romeo Lumagui, Jr. personally led a specialized team to inspect the onsite and online business operations of the accused in Bonondo,” the BIR said.
“The operation led to the seizure of approximately 50,000 to 100,000 units of vapes, plus 899 boxes of untaxed excisable articles composed of 175,050 pieces of goods, and 61,400 pieces of bottled flavored juice. The estimated value of the goods seized ranged from P51 million to P30 million,” it also said.
TAGS: #BIR # Vape Products