THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares has filed the most number of cases against tax evaders before the Department of Justice (DOJ), a day before she steps down from post.
On Wednesday, Henares filed 11 criminal cases against company owners who failed to pay taxes under BIR's Run Against Tax Evaders (Rate) program, the bureau's program in partnership with the DOJ which aims to prosecute tax evaders.
According to Henares, the bureau filed cases against Conchita de los Reyes, a former Bohol mayor, for under-declaring her taxable income for the taxable years 2011 and 2012. She is now being asked to pay the BIR P15.73 million.
De los Reyes is the founder of Beauche International, a cosmetic company.
BIR also filed cases against Planters Development Bank senior vice president Jose Acetre and Willingthon Lim for avoiding to pay their withholding taxes. They are being asked to pay a total of P959,581.35.
Also sued was Northstar Port Development Corp. and its owner former Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Alberto Suansing and its treasurer Rosauro Aguinaldo.
The BIR outgoing chief said that the owners will face a case of violation of section 255 in relation to sections 253 and 256 of the National Internal Tevenue Code of 1997 for their failure to pay the correct amount of taxes. The company owners will have to pay the company's tax liability amounting to P29.83 million.
The other companies who will face charges were Bingo operator Salle de Jeux Inc., its president and treasurer, with tax liability amounting to P53.48 million, and Trade technique Enterprises Inc. and officer-in-charge Liza Olario for P115.77.
BIR also filed cases against poultry supplier Jose Bautista (P2.20 million); Tessie Moral, a contractor (P3.77 million); Jun Roque Construction and Development Corp. and its president and treasurer (P107.7 million); Active Travel and Tours Inc. (P8.56 million); and trader Remy Daffon (P206.33 million); AJ Corinthian Hauling Corp. and its manager and treasurer (P3.92 million); and property firm.
Since 2010, a total of 492 tax evasion cases were filed before the DOJ under the Rate program but no tax evader has been convicted yet.
Fifty Rate cases are now pending before the Court of Tax Appeals, one case before the Court of Appeals and the 17 others were being handled by lower court. (Sunnex)