Government goes after tax cheats

MANILA, Philippines - Government agencies have joined hands in an effort to go after tax evaders as ordered by President Arroyo.

Officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) through the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), National Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Internal Revenue will jointly implement the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program.

CIDG director Chief Superintendent Francisco Don Montengero said the CIDG and the NBI will be assisting the BIR in manpower and expertise in the conduct of surveillance operations against suspected tax cheats.

“In a nutshell, we expect to add more revenues to boost the country’s economy,” the CIDG chief added.

Montenegro said their agents would also serve summons and warrants of arrest and at the same time the BIR will be informed of tax evasion cases uncovered in the course of their investigation.

The BIR, on the other hand, will brief and train CIDG and NBI agents on tax law, tax fraud, tax audit and other relevant topics related to the RATE program.

The agreement of the three bureaus was done in a signing of memorandum of agreement at the BIR National Training Center in Quezon City.

Montenegro said Senior Superintendent Dennis Agustin, CIDG Anti-Fraud and Commercial Crimes Division would head the CIDG’s effort on tax cheats. – Cecille Suerte Felipe