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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOJ set to file before CTA tax evasion cases vs. Discaya spouses

DOJ set to file before CTA tax evasion cases vs. Discaya spouses

Published Feb 4, 2026 10:26 am
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is set to file before the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) two tax evasion cases against contractor spouses Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya who have been implicated in the multi-billion-peso flood control mess.
The Office of the Prosecutor General, in a statement on Wednesday, Feb. 4, said the DOJ’s panel of prosecutors issued last Jan. 14 a resolution that ordered the indictment of the Discaya couple on complaints filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
It said that the couple violated Section 254 of the NIRC (National Internal Revenue Code) by concealing and/or under-declaring their true and correct income for taxable years 2020 and 2021 in their respective capacities as sole proprietors of St. Gerard Construction General Contractor and Development, and Fine Things Fashion Wear House.
It added that the prosecutors also found evidence that the Discayas violated Section 255 of the NIRC for failing to supply correct and accurate information in their respective income tax returns (ITRs) for taxable years 2020 and 2021.
However, three complaints filed by the BIR against the Discaya couple and St. Gerard Construction for alleged violations of NIRC’s Section 263 on unlawful possession or removal of articles subject to excise tax without payment of tax were dismissed, it also said.
The dismissed three charges involved the luxury vehicles of the couple.
The DOJ said: “In one of the cases, it was found that no prima facie evidence exists to indict Sarah Discaya for non-payment of excise taxes, as she was not the importer of the subject motor vehicles but merely the end consumer. Under the NIRC, liability for excise taxes rests with the importer, not the end consumer.”
It also said: “In the two (2) other complaints for non-payment of excise taxes against Curlee Discaya and St. Gerrard Construction, the same were dismissed on the ground of prescription for being filed beyond the five (5)-year prescriptive period for criminal actions under the NIRC.”
Sarah Discaya has been charged with the non-bailable malversation of public funds and graft in the P96.5 million “ghost” flood control project in Davao Occidental.
She has been detained by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the cases are undergoing trial court proceedings before the Lapu-Lapu City regional trial court (RTC), a Supreme Court-designated court for anti-graft and flood control cases.
Curlee, on the other hand, is detained at the Senate on a contempt citation.
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