BIR charges Binay’s campaign donors

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MANILA – The Bureau of Internal Revenue yesterday charged a businessman and his wife with tax evasion for non-filing of income tax returns (ITR) and non-payment of some P39 million in income tax.

The couple made substantial contribution for Vice President Jejomar Binay’s campaign during the 2010 elections.

BIR Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares identified the accused as James L. Tiu and Anne Loraine B. Tiu, in a criminal complaint submitted to the Department of Justice.

Henares said the couple failed to file their ITR in 2010 and 2011 despite being engaged in various business activities like trading shares of stocks.

Tiu also contributed P7.5 million to Binay’s vice presidential campaign while another P2.5 million was given to his Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP) during the 2010 elections, according to a report from the Commission on Elections to the revenue department.

Tiu was reported to be the brother of Antonio Tiu, the alleged owner of the farm-resort property in Batangas claimed to be owned by Binay.

Both the Tius were part of the Geenergy Holdings which owns Sunchamp, the operator of the Batangas farm now under investigation.