ACTOR-director Zoren Legaspi has asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to re-schedule the submission of his written defense against the P4.45-million tax evasion complaint filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) from Friday to June 20.
In a two-page motion dated May 30, Legaspi's lawyer Ricardo Ribo said the actor will be in Tacloban City from June 1 to 9 to coordinate ongoing livelihood projects in San Jose village and rehabilitation efforts in San Joaquin, Palo and Jaro, Leyte.
"Further, upon perusal of the complaint, respondent (Legaspi) would need to secure documentary evidence from alleged withholding agents and some government agencies to enable respondent to prepare and submit his counter-affidavit," the motion read.
Legaspi was a no-show in the first preliminary investigation hearing on May 28.
He was represented by his accountant Flora Capili, who reported that the actor has been using four tax identification numbers (TIN), which is illegal as this could be used for evading payment of correct taxes.
Assistant State Prosecutor Stewart Allan Mariano did not admit Capili's testimony into the records, saying she was not accompanied by a lawyer.
Mariano then required Legaspi to personally subscribe to his counter-affidavit on Friday.
The BIR said Legaspi willfully and substantially understated his correct taxable income by P2.85 million or 42 percent in 2010 and P4.67 million or 256 percent in 2012.
Legaspi's tax liability, including surcharges and interests, was broken down into: 2010 (P1.92 million) and 2012 (P2.53 million). (Sunnex)