MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday turned down the motion for reconsideration filed by Rappler Holdings Corporation (RHC) and its president Maria Ressa on their indictment for tax evasion.
In its resolution dated Nov. 29, 2018, the prosecution panel led by Assistant State Prosecutor Zenamar J.L. Machacon-Caparros said RHC and Ressa failed to raise new issues that would warrant a reversal of their earlier ruling for filing of the case before the Court of Tax Appeals and the Pasig City Regional Trial Court.
“Now, after judiciously going over the evidence anew together with the issues raised in the motions, we have found no sustainable ground to reverse, set aside, or modify the assailed resolution,” read the DOJ resolution.
Rappler faces charges for violation of the Tax Code otherwise known as National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) for willful attempt to evade or defeat tax and for deliberate failure to supply correct and accurate information.
Revenue officials said RHC and Ressa failed to declare in RHCs 2015 tax returns the total gain of almost PHP162.5-million which was due to the issuance of Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDR) to Washington DC-based NBM Rappler LP, a unit of North Base Media and Omidyar Network Services LLC.