Manila, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Monday filed before the Department of Justice formal criminal complaints against former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, wife Mylah Reyes-Roque, and legal counsel Atty. Percival Sazon.
These are tax evasion cases involving his family’s Biancham Holdings and Trading, Inc. over failure to file tax returns, as well as to pay the corresponding taxes due on the transfer of shares of stock and on increases in authorized capital stock.
It can be recalled that during the House’s POGO probe, the increase in Roque and his family’s assets were disclosed: from P125,000 in 2014, P3.125 million in 2015, and P67.7 million in 2018.
BIR noted that the overall estimated tax deficiency is over P3.35 million, inclusive of surcharges and interest.
The Bureau added that they found probable cause to charge the respondents with willful attempt to evade tax and failure to file tax returns.
Under the tax code, tax evasion is punishable with a P500,000 to P10 million fine and imprisonment of 6 to 10 years.
Violation on filing of tax returns is meanwhile punishable with 10 year of imprisonment, as well as payment of tax liabilities and penalty fines.
Following this, Roque almost immediately responded to the charges against his wife and Ortega.
Roque believes that these charges are part of the politically motivated actions intended to harass and pressure individuals who are supporters of the Duterte family.
He claimed that the accusations as legally and factually baseless, categorically denying the said violations.
Roque argued that all tax returns were filed according to the law and that they have diligently complied in their filing obligations.
Moreover, Roque said that their camp will exhaust all legal remedies and will cooperate with the proper judicial and administrative process, while calling for a fair investigation and adherence to due process.—Mia Layaguin, Eurotv News