P9.56-B tax evasion raps vs Mighty Corp. submitted for resolution

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday wrapped up its hearings on the first of three multi-billion peso tax evasion complaints filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) against cigarette maker Mighty Corporation.

During the preliminary investigation hearing, the three-man panel of prosecutors decided to submit the P9.56-billion tax evasion for resolution after respondent Mighty officials filed a rejoinder to BIR's allegations.

Accompanied by a lawyer, Mighty Corporation Vice President for External Affairs and Assistant Corporate Secretary Alexander Wongchuking, a respondent in the complaint, attended the 30-minute hearing.

Also named respondents are Mighty President and former Armed Forces Deputy Chief of Staff Edilberto Adan, Executive Vice President and retired Judge Oscar Barrientos and Treasurer Ernesto Victa.

Mighty officials had already said the allegations against them were not based on facts and that the BIR did not do a prior tax assessment on Mighty Corporation.

The charges for violation of Sections 263 and 265(c) of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 stemmed from the raid on four warehouses in San Isidro, Pampanga that yielded billions of pesos worth of cigarettes with fake stamps.

Another tax evasion case worth P26.93 billion was slapped against the same Mighty officials on May 9 in relation to the raid on its warehouses in San Ildefonso, Bulacan on March 24.

Last week, the BIR filed a P1.39-billion tax evasion complaint against Mighty in relation to the raid on its warehouse in General Santos City on March 24, bringing to P37.884 billion Mighty's alleged tax dues to the government.

The DOJ set the first hearing on the second complaint for June 8. —ALG, GMA News