DOJ backs Angeles City real estate tax hike

ANGELES CITY, Philippines   â€“ The Department of Justice (DOJ) has upheld the move of the Angeles City government to raise real estate taxes, the first such increase in 18 years.

Acting on the complaint filed by the Metro Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (MACCII), the DOJ cleared Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and members of the city council of any culpability for authoring the tax hike.

The MACCII questioned the “constitutionality, validity and legality” of Tax Ordinance No. 63-S. 20013 which increased real estate taxes by as much as 200 percent. 

The ordinance, according to the chamber, was “enacted without due process,” as no public hearings were held, and “contravened the fundamental principles of real estate taxation.” 

However, the DOJ said the tax ordinance “complied with the public hearing, publication and posting requirements under the law.”

The decision, signed by Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, also said MACCII’s complaint was “bereft of evidence.”

Documents submitted by the city government showed that Pamintuan himself attended and actively participated in a series of public hearings.   

Pamintuan hailed the dismissal of the complaint, saying, “We are happy that the DOJ took cognizance of the legality of the RPT (real property tax) measure. In fact, it has been the national government, specifically the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Finance, which have been pressing us to adjust our property taxes, which have not been adjusted since 1995.”

“It is about time that the big property owners give what is due the government to enable us to implement programs, particularly for the less privileged who do not own any property,” he said.