THE owner of Rico’s Lechon, whose three branches were ordered closed by the Cebu City Government, reportedly has P48 million in taxes due to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Mayor Tomas Osmeña said.
In his news conference yesterday, Osmeña showed a certification signed by Aynie Mandajoyan-Dizon, acting regional director of BIR, informing him that warrants of garnishment of funds were served to 10 banks for the accounts of Enrico Veloso Dionson.
Osmeña said the matter will prove that he is not running after Dionson for personal reasons since the certification will show that the latter might be a tax evader.
“He says I’m running against him because of personal or whatever. Well, this is why I’m running against him because he is a possible tax evader, who owes millions and millions to BIR,” Osmeña said.
When sought for comment on the matter, Dionson said he will not give further reaction, adding that he will still have to consult his family and lawyer.
Because of the development, Osmeña said City will also file a case against Dionson since he claims that his losing P500,000 a day.
“So for a year, that’s P180 million a year. And he doesn’t pay the City even one centavo. He is making it appear it’s my personal thing against him. The answer is it’s not true. I don’t think anyone in the BIR is against him,” he said.
Earlier, 3MRS Dionson Corp., the operator of Rico’s Lechon, filed a civil petition for mandamus with certiorari to compel the City to issue them with business permits.
Prior to that, the City shut down their two branches and a commissary for operating without an approved final business permit.
Asked if he personally asked BIR on the status of Rico’s Lechon’s tax due, Osmeña admitted he inquired before the office after he heard reports about it.
“Yes, because I heard. So I asked them if it is true or not. I asked in the interest of transparency,” he told reporters.
Dionson, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Rico’s Lechon, earlier said that they suspect that City Hall closed their two branches after they told Bea Villegas-Osmeña that they were ending their business partnership.
Bea is the wife of Miguel Osmeña, the only child of Mayor Osmeña.
She owned 30 percent of Rico’s Lechon-Mabolo branch. (RVC)