BIR files charges against former Philcomsat officials

MANILA, Philippines - The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed charges against former officials of Philcomsat Holdings Corp. (PHC).

BIR Deputy Commissioner Estela Sales led BIR lawyers yesterday in filing before the Department of Justice (DOJ) a complaint against former Philcomsat chairman Benito Ramon Araneta and former directors Luis Lokin Jr. and Philip Brodette.

According to data gathered by the agency, Araneta has a total income tax deficiency of P87.7 million incurred in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

The BIR, meanwhile, charged Lokin with five counts of willful attempt to evade or defeat payment of income taxes for taxable years 2003 to 2007; three counts of attempt to evade or defeat payments of value added taxes from 2005 to 2007, thirty-six counts of failure to file value added tax returns for 2005 to 2007 and five counts of willful failure to supply correct and accurate information in his income tax returns from 2003 to 2007.

Lokin was one of the subjects of a Senate inquiry for his alleged involvement in the questionable disbursements of corporate funds of the Philippine Overseas Telecommunication Corp., Philcomsat and Philcomsat Holdings Corp.

According to data gathered by the BIR, Lokin substantially underdeclared his income by failing to declare in his income tax returns the payments he received from PHC.

The BIR said Lokin received from PHC roughly P23.08 million from 2003 to 2007 and has a tax deficiency of P12.4 million, inclusive of surcharges and interests.

A separate complaint was filed against Brodette also for attempting to evade taxes from 2003 to 2007.

Brodette allegedly owes the BIR roughly P526,610 in deficiency taxes from 2003 to 2007.