DOJ starts probe today on P150-M tax raps vs Corona, kin

MANILA, Philippines - A P150-million tax evasion case against ousted chief justice Renato Corona, his daughter and son-in-law will be heard at the Department of Justice (DOJ) starting today.

The first hearing of the preliminary investigation into the complaint of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will start at 10 a.m.

It is the first criminal action against Corona following his ouster last May 29.

Corona is expected to appear at the DOJ when he submits his counter-affidavit.

Heading the investigating panel is Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Roseanne Balauag, with prosecution attorneys Mark Roland Estepa and Jayvee Laurence Bandong as members.

The panel will determine if probable cause exists to warrant the filing of the case in court.

The BIR accused Corona, his daughter Carla Castillo and her husband Constantino Castillo of failing to file their income tax returns for several years in violation of the National Internal Revenue Code.

Corona is accused of violating the tax code in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2010, while Carla in 2010, her husband, of evading taxes in 2003 and 2008, and failing to file an income tax return in 2003.

Corona had already denied the accusations.