Erap slams BIR over unpaid taxes

MANILA, Philippines – Former President Joseph Estrada slammed the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for ordering him and his wife, former senator Loi Ejercito, to pay a total of P2.9 billion in unpaid taxes.

Estrada described the BIR order as “baseless,” pointing out the Sandiganbayan ruling clearing him of charges of perjury for illegal use of alias and of misdeclaring his income tax returns in 1997.

Estrada said the BIR apparently made the mistake of using the perjury charges as basis for the order.

“It is pure and simple harassment. The late Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice (Francis) Garchitorena, who handled my cases, has dismissed the perjury charges against me,” Estrada said.

Estrada said the prosecution had failed to prove allegations that he was using the alias Jose Velarde in a bank account to stash ill-gotten wealth.

“The prosecution panel also failed to prove that I am the owner of various companies that they alleged (were mine),” Estrada said.

The failure of the prosecution to prove the allegations prompted the anti-graft court to dismiss the case, he said.

Estrada said the Sandiganbayan special division, which convicted him for plunder last year, has already ordered the forfeiture of the Jose Velarde account.

“I am not Jose Velarde and the Jose Velarde account has already been forfeited by the government. I have nothing to do with that. I don’t need to mind it,” Estrada said.

Before she resigned, BIR commissioner Lilian Hefti on Sept. 26 ordered the Estrada couple to pay P2.9 billion in unpaid taxes through the year 1999, including interest. – Jose Rodel Clapano