The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on December 13, filed criminal charges for alleged tax evasion and related charges against Binondo-based traders behind the alleged smuggling of vaping products into the country.
BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui headed the filing of the cases against Wei Feng Bao, Christina Poa, Sandoval Severino Briones, Jimmy Go, and Bibiano Lesaca that involved tax assessment of up to P1.2 billion.
The tax evasion case was the first case filed under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
With such, Lumagui warned the public that the government take crackdowns against traders, not paying correct taxes, seriously.
Meanwhile, the five individuals were charged with violations of Republic Act No. 111346 or An Act Increasing the Excise Tax on Tobacco Products, Imposing Excise Tax on Heated Tobacco Products and Vapor Products, and Increasing the Penalties for Violations of Provisions on Articles Subject to Excise Tax; and the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.
Between 50,000 and 100,000 units of vapes, 899 boxes of untaxed excisable articles composed of 175,050 pieces of pods, and 61,400 pieces of bottled flavored juice worth an estimated P15 million to P30 million were seized by the authorities.
