The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed simultaneously before the prosecutors’ offices nationwide tax evasion charges involving P6.1 billion against 214 corporate officers and 127 companies.
BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. led the filing of cases before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday, Aug. 3.
Lumagui said those corporate officers and firms charged are involved in manufacturing, retail, importations, and construction.
The names of the corporate officers and their companies were not immediately available.
However, lawyer Greghvon A. Matol of the BIR's prosecution division said that "the list of respondents is still considered confidential due to the presumption of innocence until the cases have been filed in courts."
“Ang sinampahan natin ng kaso ngayon ay 127 na kumpanya na hindi nagbabayad ng buwis. Ang liability na total ay nasa P6.1 billion (We filed cases against 127 companies that did not file taxes. The total tax liabilities of these companies amount to P6.1 billion),” Lumagui said.
“Halo-halo po ito at ‘yun nga po ang kahaharapin niyan ay parusang pagkakakulong ‘yan ang corporate officers. Bukod pa d’yan civil liability, mga tax liabilities na hindi nila binayaran (Various companies face complaints and their corporate officers face the possibility of imprisonment. This is apart from the civil liabilities, the tax liabilities that they failed to pay),” he said.
“Lahat ng sinampahan natin ay dumaan ng proseso (All of those charged underwent due process),” he assured.
He also said:
“Binigyan natin sila ng pagkakataon na sumagot at magprisenta ng mga dokumento nila para naman mapresenta nila kung magkano ba talaga ang kanilang bayaran (we gave them the opportunity to answer and present documents on how much taxes they should pay).
“Ang panawagan natin sa lahat ng mga nagnenegosyo na kumpanya na siguraduhin natin nagbabayad tayo ng tamang buwis (We appeal to businesses to make sure to pay the right taxes).
“At pangalawa rin iwasan natin at ‘wag na natin gamitin ang mga ghost receipts (And secondly, avoid using ghost receipts).
“Kung hindi n’yo ‘to pansinin magtuloy-tuloy ang aming audit at magkakaroon kayo ng assessment at baka anu pa ‘yan sa pagfile ng kaso (If you ignore these it might proceed to auditing and assessment that might lead to the filing of cases).
“Bibigyan naman natin kayo ng pagkakataon na ma-explain ninyo kung ano ang dapat ninyo na bayaran na buwis (We will give you the opportutnity to explain what are the taxes you are supposed to pay).”
The filing of cases on Thursday, Aug. 3, was the second done by the BIR under its Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program.
The first batch of RATE cases was filed last February with 74 criminal cases involving P3.58 billion.