DOJ summons Rappler’s Maria Ressa over BIR tax evasion complaint

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revoked the registration of news organization Rappler for violating constitutional restrictions that prohibit foreign ownership of mass media. (PCOO photo)

The Department of Justice (DOJ) summoned the president and treasurer of media agency Rappler over the tax evasion complaint that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed against its parent company.

According to Rappler’s report, its president Maria Ressa and its treasurer James Bitanga received the Justice Departmnt’s subpoena on Monday, April 16, signed by Assistant State Prosecutor Zenamar J. L. Macachon-Caparros on April 11, Wednesday.

“You are hereby warned that failure on your part to comply with this subpoena shall be considered as a waiver to present your defense and the case shall be considered submitted for resolution based on the evidence on record,” Caparros said.

Ressa and Bitanga were also directed to submit their counter-affidavits and other supporting documents or affidavits by witnesses.

BIR filed the complaint on March 8, alleging that Rappler Holdings Corporation (RHC) through Ressa and Bitanga willfully attempted to evade paying taxes. It also read that there were inaccurate figures in their income tax and value-added tax (VAT) returns in 2015.

(Read: Rappler faces tax evasion rap from BIR)

“As a consequence of its acts and omissions, the aggregate tax liability of [Rappler] amounted to P133,841,305.75 broken down as follows IT – P91,320,481.08; and VAT – P42,520,824.67,” the complaint read.

At the same time, BIR also claimed that Rappler profited from the sale of Philippine Depositary Receipts in 2015, which requires it to pay income and VAT.

For Ressa, these complaints that Rappler is facing is clearly an “intimidation and harassment.”

“The government is wasting its energy and resources in an attempt to silence reporting that does not please the administration,” the Rappler president said.

Apart from BIR, Rappler is also facing raps from the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of the Solicitor General, the DOJ, and the National Bureau of Investigation.