Manila businessman faces P5.2-billion tax evasion rap
MANILA (Mabuhay) – Twelve businessmen in Metro Manila are facing tax evasion charges filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) before the Department of Justice.
One businessman, Carlos Adraque Ching of Etheria Trading, was sued by the BIR, for an aggregate tax liability covering taxable years 2009 and 2010 amounting to P5.28 billion. Etheria Trading is a retailer based in Ermita, Manila.
Ching allegedly evaded paying his taxes, failed to file income tax returns, and failed to supply correct information in his value-added tax (VAT) returns in 2009 and 2010.
The tax agency said Ching underdeclared his sales by more than P1 billion in 2009 and by nearly P5 billion in 2010 for income tax.
He also allegedly underdeclared his sales by P1.8 billion in 2009 and by P1.45 billion in 2010 for VAT.
At the same time, three officers of food, beverages and tobacco wholesale firm Tridharma Marketing Corp., Rene dela Calzada (president); Michael Lu (treasurer); and Ramona Tan (general manager) were sued for an aggregate tax liability covering taxable year 2010 amounting to P4.47 billion.
An independent accountant, Mailene Sigue-Bisnar, was included in the charge.
The BIR also filed cases against Ricardo Visbe of Bay Specialist Trading and officials of Sea Traders Logistics and Warehousing Center Corp. for failing to pay taxes.
Visbe was sued for deficiency tax liabilities for taxable year 2004 in the aggregate amount of P94.12 million while Sea Traders, its president Alex Chua and treasurer Clara delos Reyes, were assessed deficiency tax liabilities for 2006 in the sum of P70.08 million.
Also sued was the president of Cadense Unlimited Inc., Leonardo de Paz, for a total deficiency income tax liability for taxable year 2010 amounting to P199.52 million.
The president of Global Hills Philippines, Rene Belarmino, and treasurer Amado Ulbano, meanwhile, are facing tax evasion charges amounting to P82.96 million.
Charges were also filed against the president of Paladin Protective and Security Services, Dominador Lim, and managing director Antonio Henson Jr. for deficiency taxes for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010 in the sum of P48.26 million. (MNS)
