BIR files P73-M tax raps vs. 4 bizmen

The BIR accused respondents Deborah DJ De Castro, Vilma J. Barcelona, Ruben Gerard Andres Fortuno III, and Renato A. Masbate of willful attempt to evade and defeat tax and willful failure to pay taxes under the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997. (Photo: Bureau of Internal Revenue Philippines)

MANILA — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed separate criminal complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against four delinquent individuals and corporate taxpayers amounting to PHP 72.9 million.

The BIR accused respondents Deborah DJ De Castro, Vilma J. Barcelona, Ruben Gerard Andres Fortuno III, and Renato A. Masbate of willful attempt to evade and defeat tax and willful failure to pay taxes under the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.

“The respondents’ obstinate failure and continued refusal to pay their long overdue deficiency in taxes despite repeated demands constitute willful failure to pay the taxes due to the government,” the BIR said in a statement Monday.

De Castro, who is the sole proprietress of JECA Minerals with registered address in Naga City engaged in small-scale mining extracting white clay in San Vicente, Tinambac, Camarines Sur has a total tax liability of PHP2,244,794.88.

Barcelona, who is the sole proprietress of Sunrise Emission Test Center based in Camarines Norte has a total tax liability for taxable year 2014 amounting to PHP 34,051, 949.12, inclusive of increments for her acts and omissions.

Fortuno III, the sole owner of Tabaco Sports Arena (a cockpit) located at Tabaco City whose case emanated from denunciations made against him alleging tax evasion through non-filing and non-payment of taxes has an aggregate total civil (income tax and amusement tax) liability totaling to PHP21,363,332.28.

Masbate, whose instant case stemmed from an allegation contained in a letter complaint for non-payment of taxes has a total deficiency tax liability for taxable years 2012 to 2016 amounting to PHP15,268,278.72, inclusive of increments as a consequence of his acts and omissions.

On the other hand, the BIR also filed a criminal complaint against Renell Paul S. Reyes — unlawful pursuit of business — for failure to register with the BIR while engaged in the business of selling construction supply.

The BIR said that the case emanated from a letter complaint from an informant alleging that Reyes, the owner of Paul Training and Construction Supply based in San Mateo, Rizal was issuing unregistered sales invoices.

Records of the investigation showed that a Tax Compliance Verification Drive (TVCD) or tax mapping was conducted by the BIR to investigate the respondent’s business activities to determine the veracity and extent of the violation committed.

The cases of the abovementioned respondents are the 192nd, 193rd, 194th, 195th, and 196th filed under the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program of the BIR under the leadership of Commissioner Caesar R. Dulay.