Lawmakers urge BIR to target big fish

MANILA, Philippines - Four party-list representatives urged Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Jacinto Henares to train her guns on the big fish suspected of evading billions in taxes.

At the same time, they called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to soon resolve the tax evasion cases filed with it by Henares.

This is one area where Justice Secretary Leila de Lima could focus on and show some concrete accomplishments, instead of spreading herself and her prosecutors thin on so many high-profile controversies that have been resolved in the past.

They said tax cases should not be difficult to resolve, since they involved earnings that are documented like the alleged P1-billion payment made by the Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corp. to a movie director on which taxes were allegedly not paid.

Representatives Luzviminda Ilagan and Emmie de Jesus of Gabriela, Angelo Palmones of Agham and Irwin Tieng of Buhay made the collective call after Henares filed charges against three former officials of satellite communications provider Philcomsat Holdings Corp. (PHC).

Charged were former PHC board member Luis Lokin Jr. with five counts of willful attempt to evade payment of income taxes, three counts of non-payment of value-added taxes, and 36 counts of failure to file VAT returns.

Henares said Lokin owes the government P12.47 million, including surcharges and interests.

Former PHC board director Philip Brodett was charged with five counts of tax evasion, four counts of failure to provide correct information in income tax returns (ITR) and one count of non-filing of ITR during the years 2003 to 2007. He was assessed P526,610,537.55 in back taxes, including surcharges and interests.

Also charged was ex-PHC chairman and director Benito Ramon Araneta, whose alleged tax deficiency totaled P87.77 million for the years 2003 until 2005.

Ilagan said while the efforts of Henares should be appreciated, she should target the big fish in her campaign against tax evaders.

“For so long, only the small fry were hounded, the big fish were allowed to get away and government would raise taxes for revenue, making the fixed earners suffer. Going after evaders is a good move,” she said.

“This is an initial step which should not stop to target bigger fishes and not just pa-pogi points lang,” she said.

Palmones said the filing of tax evasion cases was long overdue. He called on the government not to think of proposing new tax measures, which he said burden the poor more than the rich.

“Congress need not to pass new tax measures if only BIR will sincerely run after big-time tax evaders,” said Palmones.

For his part, Tieng said, “I support BIR’s move to intensify its campaign to file cases against tax evaders. I think it is high time that the people should realize that paying taxes is important and it is the fuel that runs our country.”