The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday filed criminal charges against 214 officials from 127 corporate companies due to alleged evasion of ₱6.1 billion in tax payments.
BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. along with BIR Regional officers led the filing before the Department of Justice (DOJ) in Manila.
In an interview with the media, Lumagui Jr. said the government lost an estimated ₱6.1 billion due to the tax evasions.
"Ang ginagawa kasi dyan ay kadalasan, hindi pinapansin ang aming proseso. Magpapadala kami ng letter of authority or audit namin kasi meron kami nakikitang red flag o mali sa kanilang pagre-report ng revenues or sa kanilang pag re-report ng expenses," Lumagui said.
"Yung iba, hindi nila pinapansin ang pagproseso namin kapag pinapadalhan namin sila kahit natanggap nila, hindi nila pinapansin. Binaliwala nila kaya humahantong sa ganitong pagsasampa ng kaso," he added.
LOOK: Kahon-kahong dokumento ang dala dala ng BIR para sa paghahain ng criminal complaints sa DOJ laban sa 214 Presidents, VPs, Treasurers, CPAs ng mga korporasyon | RH29@boy_gonzales #SamaSamaTayoPilipino pic.twitter.com/P2vafuT4xf
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) August 3, 2023
According to the BIR Chief, the 127 companies that are facing charges are known in the field of retail, import, and construction industries.
Among the 214 corporate officials involved, he said some are seating in the positions of presidents, vice presidents, treasurers, and certified public accountants (CPAs).
Lumagui noted that the charges filed had undergone the correct process.
"Sinisigurado naman natin na may due process na nagaganap tayo dito. Na-audit sila, binigyan natin sila ng pagkakataon na sumagot at magpresinta ng dokumento nila," he added.
The BIR Chief reminded companies and corporations to pay their taxes properly.
"Huwag na nating gamitin ang ghost receipts. I-report natin nang tama ang revenues natin at bayaran natin ang ating buwis kapag nakatanggap kayo ng authority galing sa BIR. Siguraduhin natin na pansinin niyo ito [letter of authority] dahil kung hindi, magtutuloy-tuloy ito at ma-ano pa iyan sa pag-file ng kaso," Lumagui said.
