Ampatuan lawyer ordered indicted for tax evasion

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has approved the indictment of a lawyer of the principal accused in the Maguindanao massacre case for tax evasion.

In an 11-page resolution released yesterday, the DOJ found probable cause to file a case against Arnel Manaloto, counsel for Andal Ampatuan Jr., for violation of the National Internal Revenue Code.

The DOJ also approved the indictment of Manaloto’s accountant Erwin Carreon.

Preliminary investigation into the complaint filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) against Manaloto last November showed that he evaded payment of taxes worth P27.56 million by under-declaring his income in 2011.

“The evidence submitted by the BIR tends to establish that the entries in the ITR (income tax return) and financial statements of respondent Manaloto for taxable year 2011 are manipulated to make it appear that his taxable income is only P1,495,200 when the true income is P37,967,266.26,” read the resolution signed by Prosecutor General Claro Arellano.

Assistant State Prosecutor Ma. Cristina Barot earlier recommended the dismissal of the BIR complaint against Manaloto for supposed lack of probable cause.

An earlier report of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism said the land titles of eight properties of Ampatuan and his wife, Reshal, had been transferred to Manaloto.

Arraigned

Meanwhile, five suspects, including two members of the Ampatuan political clan, were arraigned yesterday in connection with the 2009 Maguindanao massacre.

Sajid Islam Ampatuan and Akmad Ampatuan, son and nephew of former Maguindanao governor Andal Ampatuan Sr., respectively, entered not guilty pleas at a makeshift court in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City.

Also arraigned before Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 221 Judge Jocelyn Solis-Reyes were Kasim Lingkong, Sahid Guiamadi and Mama Habib. They were the 97th to 101st suspects arraigned for the massacre.

The five were among the 107 of the initial 197 suspects tagged in the massacre.

The arraignment of two other Ampatuans – Anwar “Ipi” and Anwar Sajid “Ulo” – was deferred because their motion for reconsideration is still pending. – With Janvic Mateo