DOJ to start probe on Coronas' P150-million tax evasion raps

 MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) will start its preliminary investigation on the P150-million tax evasion charges filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) against former chief justice Renato Corona, his daughter and son-in-law.

Government prosecutors yesterday issued subpoenas for Corona along with his daughter Ma. Carla Beatriz Castillo and her husband Constantino Castillo III and ordered them to appear on Sept. 25 and Oct. 5 at 10 a.m. at the DOJ multi-purpose room where the preliminary probe will be held.

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Roseanne Balauag will head the investigating panel, with prosecution lawyers Mark Roland Estepa and Jayvee Laurence Bandong as members.

In a complaint filed before the DOJ, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares said Corona and his kin failed to file their income tax returns for the years 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2010.

Corona had denied the accusations.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Corona and his family members are required to personally appear before the DOJ during the preliminary hearing of their case.

“There has to be a valid reason (if they do not attend personally). The process is to determine whether there has been tax evasion and that it has been committed by the respondent. So that’s the whole purpose of the preliminary investigation,” De Lima said.

“Now if they do not submit a counter affidavit, that is considered a waiver on their right to file a counter affidavit. And therefore, the case will be resolved on the basis of the complaint and the evidence supporting the complaint,” she added.

Mikey no-show at CTA hearing

Meanwhile, Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo was a no-show in yesterday’s hearing on his tax evasion case at the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA).

The BIR charged him with three counts of tax evasion while his wife, Angela, was charged with seven counts of tax evasion for failing to file income tax returns from 2003 to 2009.

Arroyo, however, expressed confidence that he and his wife would be cleared of the charges. – With Paolo Romero