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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOJ wraps up probe on P7.1-B tax evasion charges filed by BIR vs Discaya spouses

DOJ wraps up probe on P7.1-B tax evasion charges filed by BIR vs Discaya spouses

Published Dec 19, 2025 06:50 pm
A panel of prosecutors of the Department Justice (DOJ) on Friday, Dec. 19, wrapped up its preliminary investigation on the P7.1 billion tax evasion charges filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) against contractor spouses Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya.
Prosecutor General Richard Anthony D. Fadullon said the resolution, whether to dismiss the charges or file the cases in courts, will be issued next week.
During the last hearing of the charges on Friday, Fadullon said that Sarah appeared before the panel of prosecutors to submit her rejoinder.
She needed to swear to her rejoinder before the panel of prosecutors investigating the charges, Fadullon said.
Last Nov. 21, the Discaya couple submitted their counter-affidavits and refuted the allegations against them.
Sarah is now in the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) which served the arrest order issued against her by the Lapu-Lapu City regional trial court (RTC) on charges of malversation of public funds, a non-bailable offense, and graft.
She and several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Davao Occidental were charged by the Office of the Ombudsman in the P96.5 million “ghost” infrastructure project in the province in 2022.
Curlee, on the other hand, is detained at the Senate on a contempt citation.
The tax evasion complaints filed by BIR involved the Discayas accumulated tax liabilities of P7,182,172,532.25 from 2018 to 2021.
The first set of cases involved the Discaya couple’s failure to pay their individual income taxes for taxable years 2018 to 2021.
The second set of cases involved their decision to divest from some of their corporations -- St. Gerrard, St. Timothy, St. Matthew, and Alpha and Omega.
The third set of cases involved the failure of the Discayas and St. Gerard to file excise tax returns and pay the excise taxes for nine luxury vehicles registered under their names.
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