DOJ to charge Arroyo son, wife with tax evasion

MANILA (Updated 12 p.m.) -- The Department of Justice (DOJ) found probable cause to charge Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Representative Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo and his wife Angela with tax evasion.

The DOJ said the case, which will be filed before the Court of Tax Appeals, stemmed from the couple's alleged failure to declare the right income from 2003 to 2009.

The couple allegedly had a total tax liability of at least P 73.85 million, inclusive of interest and surcharges.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) earlier filed tax evasion complaints against the couple at the Department of Justice.

BIR commissioner Kim Henares earlier said the party-list lawmaker did not file his Internal Tax Revenue (ITR) in 2005, 2008, and 2009, while his wife failed to file her ITR from 2003 to 2009.

BIR investigation showed the Arroyo couple owned residential houses in the United States, in Lubao, Pampanga, and La Vista Subdivision in Quezon City. They also declared as assets motor vehicles, shares of stock, jewelry, and clothes.

Arroyo earlier described as "pure political harassment" the tax evasion cases filed against him and his wife by the BIR.

Arroyo, the eldest child of former President now Pampanga second district Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, said the Aquino administration is behind the filing of tax evasion cases against him and his wife.

However, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the charges were not personality-driven but pursued based on pieces of evidence gathered by the concerned commissions. (Sunnex)