Manila, Philippines – Amid the government’s probe against corruption, the Bureau of Internal Revenue have also intensified its crackdown against contractors with ghost and anomalous flood control projects with tax deficiencies.
This week, BIR filed a new batch of criminal complaints against some individuals and companies tied to the flood control mess in Bulacan—namely IM Construction Corporation and SYMS Construction Trading.
The complaint includes violation of Tax Evasion law and willful failure to supply correct and accurate information against the two companies and some of its representatives over P13.8 million tax deficiencies.
BIR’s findings found that IM Construction received payments for the construction of a pumping station and flood gate in Barangay Sto. Rosario in Hagonoy. However, there was no physical proof of its construction.
The agency also found the same discrepancies with SYMS Construction Trading’s reinforced riverwall project in Barangay Piel in Baliuag. Despite receiving 100% of payment, there were two projects establish in the area.
BIR said that false declarations of costs and spendings for unaccomplished projects are an indication of tax evasion and misuse of public funds.
“They took public money meant to protect families from flooding, and built nothing. That is corruption at its most shameless. The BIR will not allow contractors to enrich themselves through fake projects and falsified tax filings. We will pursue every offender, recover every peso, and continue filing criminal charges until this practice ends,” Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza, Bureau of Internal Revenue said.
These two news complaints bring the number of charges filed against those linked in the scandal to 12 cases, for over P8.87 billion tax liabilities.—Mia Layaguin, Eurotv News