By Benjamin Pulta | Philippine News Agency
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday filed tax evasion charges before the Department of Justice against three former officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways-Bulacan 1st District Engineering Office.
Named respondents are former District Engr. Henry Alcantara, former Assistant District Engr. Brice Ericson Hernandez and former Construction Section Chief Jaypee Mendoza.
“We conducted a lifestyle check on Alcantara, Hernandez, and Mendoza. These three ex-DPWH officials had lavish lifestyles. We discovered P1.6 billion in income tax deficiencies alone after investigating their financial transactions, properties, business interests, and tax returns of the aforementioned individuals. This is a clear case of tax evasion,” BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said in a statement.
The three ex-government officials face charges for tax evasion and willful failure to file and willful failure to supply correct and accurate information in their income tax returns.
The BIR said the officials derived significant income from so-called “proponents’ shares,” or kickbacks from ghost flood-control projects, which they allegedly laundered through casino gambling.
Through the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and casino records of the three officials, the BIR confirmed that they exchanged cash for casino chips grossly disproportionate to their declared sources of income.
Further examination of the BIR, Land Registration Authority (LRA), and Land Transportation Office (LTO) records revealed that the officials acquired luxury vehicles, high-value properties, and other personal assets also grossly disproportionate to their declared sources of income.
“The SALNs (Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth) and tax returns of Alcantara, Hernandez, and Mendoza cannot justify their lavish lifestyle. Their casino records, properties, financial transactions, and business interests are grossly disproportionate to their declared sources of income,” Lumagui said.
“We will continue investigating government officials with direct evidence linking them to anomalous flood control projects. This is the second batch of criminal cases filed in relation to this issue. As of now, we have filed a total of 10 criminal cases, with P8.860 billion in total tax liability. Expect more tax cases to be filed.”
The BIR said the case was made possible through a whole-of-government approach.
The properties, financial transactions, and other pieces of evidence showcasing their lavish lifestyle were pieced together through the help of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), Anti–Money Laundering Council (AMLC), LRA, LTO, PAGCOR, and licensed casinos.
