BIR sues Makati birthday cake supplier

A birthday cake and card from the Makati government given to a senior citizen living in the city. Philstar/AJ Bolando

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue has filed charges against the owners of a bakery, which supplies cakes for Makati City government, for allegedly misdeclaring its income.

The tax evasion complaint signed by Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares was filed Thursday before the Department of Justice against Cups and Mugs Kitchenette owner Kimtun Chong.

The tax complaint against Cups and Mugs covered the period of 2009 to 2011, involving an allegedly unpaid taxes amounting to P46 million.

In a radio report, Henares claimed that Chong's company only declared P43.23 million when it earned P107.64 million from the Makati City government alone.

In August, lawyer Renato Bondal accused Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin "Junjun" Binay and the former city mayor, Vice President Jejomar Binay, before the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee of giving away "overpriced" birthday cakes to senior citizens.

Bondal claimed that each cake costs the city government P1,000. Makati City Administrator Eleno Mendoza, however, said that the cake were purchased at only P306 each.

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