Villarica posts P300,000-bail for P22.4-million tax evasion case

MANILA, Philippines - Businessman William Villarica, the pawnshop owner who is facing a P22.4- million tax evasion case, has posted a P300,000 bail, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said over the weekend.

Citing documents from the Court of Appeals (CTA) dated July 13, the BIR said Villarica posted a bail of P200,000 for Criminal case no. 212 and P100,000 for Criminal Case No. 313 in Malolos on June 22 upon learning of the filing of criminal information against him at the CTA.

The bail was posted at Branch 11 of the Malolos City Regional Trial Court.

The Villarica case is the first filed under the Aquino administration’s Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program, under which the government files charges against tax cheats.

Last month, the Department of Justice said there was probable cause in the filing of criminal charges against Villarica, acting on the tax evasion case filed by the BIR in July last year.

The CTA is handling the case against Villarica because it has exclusive jurisdiction over all criminal offenses arising from violations of the National Internal Revenue Code or the Tariff and Customs Code and other laws administered by either the BIR or the Bureau of Customs, the government’s second largest revenue agency.

“It also has exclusive original jurisdiction in tax collection cases involving penalties of over P1 million as well as in the final and executory assessment of taxes, fees, charges and penalties,” the BIR also said.

According to the BIR, Villarica faces a fine of P30,000 to P100,000 and imprisonment of two to four years for attempting to evade and defeat taxes.

He also faces a minimum fine of P10,000 and imprisonment of one to 10 years for failing to file correct and accurate information.

The case against Villarica stemmed from his failure to pay the right amount of taxes from 1998 to 2009, according to the BIR.

He also purchased of a two-door Lamborghini worth P26 million in 2007 when neither he or his spouse did not make any tax payment and even when his pawnshop business was still on active status.