DOJ indicts Vibal Group, CEO for tax evasion charges

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended the filing of 17 cases against Vibal Group, as well as its chief executive officer, for violations of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC).

In a statement, the DOJ said it issued a resolution indicting Vibal Group, Inc., along with its CEO Kristine Mandigma, and controller Maricel Villas, for the violation of Sections 254 (Attempt to Evade or Defeat Tax), and 255 (Failure to File Return, Supply Correct and Accurate Information, Pay Tax, Withhold and Remit Tax and Refund Excess Taxes Withheld on Compensation), in relation to Section 253(d) and Section 256 of the NIRC of 1997.

The Vibal Group’s core businesses include publishing, printing, systems integration, and technology solutions specialized for education, government, and private enterprise.

“It was discovered that respondent did not pay withholding tax on compensation from March to September 2021, expanded withholding tax from January to September 2021 and final withholding tax on income for the period January to March 2021,” the DOJ said.

“While Vibal group, Inc. filed its returns, it did not pay the taxes,” it added.

According to the DOJ, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) sent a collection notice to Vibal Group with an attached list of returns filed without corresponding payments and demanded the immediate settlement of the taxes within ten days from the receipt.

However, despite receipt of the documents, Vibal Group failed to pay the subject deficiency taxes as of January 3, 2023.

GMA News Online has reached out to Vibal Group for comment, but it has yet to reply as of posting time.

The DOJ said the non-payment of the withholding taxes are all “willful and deliberate due to respondent’s act of repeated filing of various returns without payment.”

The agency also pointed out that Mandigma and Villas are both liable for the complained violations having executed and signed the Statement of Management’s Responsibility for Annual Income Tax Return.

“In the said statement, they categorically admitted and owned responsibility for all information and representations contained in the annual income tax return and in all the other tax returns for the reporting period and affirmed the completeness and correctness in all material respects of respondent Vibal’s audited annual income tax return and financial statements for the year,” DOJ said, stressing that both Mandigma and Villas are therefore both responsible officers of the company.

DOJ said that cases will be filed before the Regional Trial Court in Quezon City. —VAL, GMA Integrated News