Mighty Corp. not liable for Parañaque cigarette dump, lawyer says

The lawyer of Mighty Corporation — the firm accused of using fake tax stamps — on Friday said the company should not be held liable after three of its employees were caught dumping dozens of cartons of cigarettes in Parañaque City.

"There was no relationship between the people who were supposedly dumping those and the company itself," said lawyer Sigfrid Fortun in a report by GMA News' Cedric Castillo on "Balitanghali."

"Baka 'yan 'yung mga dealers or even the retailers who are apprehensive na because of all this news going around," he added.

Three employees of a tobacco company were arrested after they were caught dumping several boxes of cigarettes in Parañaque City. The cigarettes reportedly came from Muntinlupa City.

The boxes of cigarettes had brand names King, Chelsea and Marvels — all products of Mighty Corporation.

Meanwhile, the company said it would support any government plan on tax policies.

"Anything to help the government achieve its tax and social upliftment activities will be fully supported by Mighty Corporation," Fortun said.

Mighty Corp. owner Alexander Wong Chu King had vowed to cooperate in any investigation on allegations that he committed economic sabotage.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he would be ready to settle the tax case of Mighty Corporation if the cigarette manufacturer would pay double the excise tax the company failed to remit.

Duterte told reporters in Davao del Sur that Mighty Corporation should pay P3 billion for the rehabilitation of hospitals in the country.

However, he said the deal with Mighty Corporation would be on if Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon, and Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar Dulay would agree to it.

Dominguez, on Friday, said the government has not entered into a settlement with Mighty Corporation. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News