Alapag, Dillinger face tax evasion charges

MANILA — Two players from the multi-titled Talk ‘N Text franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) were slapped with tax evasion charges by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) before the Department of Justice on Thursday.

They are Jared Dillinger and team captain Jimmy Alapag, who have a combined tax liability of P31.23 million.

Based on the BIR’s investigation, Alapag earned around P4 million from the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., which runs Talk ‘N Text owner Smart Communications, in 2007.

But Alapag allegedly failed to file his income tax returns for taxable years 2007 to 2010 and value added tax returns from 2007 to 2012.

The BIR computed Alapag’s tax deficiency at P17.86 million for the seven-year period, inclusive of surcharge and interest.

BIR records show that Alapag earned P32.28 million from professional basketball.

Dillinger, on the other hand, has a tax deficiency at P13.37 million, including surcharge and interest, for failure to file his income tax returns from 2008 to 2011 and percentage tax return for 2008.

The BIR said he also failed to file his value added tax returns from 2009 to 2012.

From 2008, Dillinger’s income with the PLDT rose from P694,000 to P6.48 million in 2012.

Overall, his income as ballplayer totalled P22.19 million last year.

Meanwhile, the Alaska Aces try to cement their hold of the top spot when they collide against Air 21 Express while Meralco Bolts and San Mig Coffee face each Friday in the 38th Commissioners Cup elimination round at the Araneta Coliseum today.

Coach Luigi Trillo’s Aces are seeking their second straight win and their seventh overall in the elimination after seeing their five game winning streak snapped by San Mig Coffee (75-68) on March 6.

The pacesetter Aces, who will rely on 6’9” import Robert Dozier, will face the Express at 7:30 p.m. Meralco, on the other hand, tries to stretch its winning run to four when they takes on the Coffee Mixers at 5:15 p.m.

Coach Franz Pumaren of Air 21 hopes for a fitting follow-up after crashing Globalport, 106-94, on March 10. But with only a 2-5 card, the Express need to win all their remaining matches to avoid virtual elimination. FCC/With a report from Sunnex