Tax evasion complaints filed vs 2 contractors over flood control mess

The Bureau of Internal Revenue on Thursday filed tax evasion complaints with the Department of Justice against SYMS Construction Trading proprietor Sally Santos and IM Construction Corporation president Robert Imperio over ghost flood control projects in Bulacan.

According to BIR Commissioner Charlito Mendoza, SYMS was awarded a contract for the construction of a river wall while IM Construction received a contract for the construction of a pumping station and flood gate.

He said that though the projects are non-existent, the two contractors filed tax deductions for construction cost, leading to around P14 million in tax liabilities.

“Ang kriminal case naman po ay upang maipataw ang tamang parusa: Imprisonment and fine. Kinakailangan pa rin po nilang bayaran ang buwis,” Mendoza said in a briefing.

(In criminal cases, the goal is to impose the proper penalties: imprisonment and fines. They still need to pay the taxes.)

LOOK: BIR files tax evasion complaints vs. Syms Construction proprietor Sally Santos and IM Construction Corporation at the DOJ over ghost flood control projects, citing around P14 million in tax liabilities @gmanews pic.twitter.com/FnbmpaytQM

— Joahna Lei Casilao (@joahnacasilao) November 27, 2025

The complaints are for tax evasion and Failure to Supply Correct and Accurate Information under the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.

Another respondent is IM Construction treasurer Jane Imperio.

When asked if the BIR is investigating any elected official, Mendoza said the commission is looking into everything.

“Ang sinisiguro lang po natin ay meron tayong maliwanag na ebidensya kapag nagsampa tayo ng kaso,” he said.

(We are simply ensuring that we have clear evidence when we file a case.)

Mendoza also said that the BIR will look into Centerways Construction and Development Inc. president Lawrence Lubiano, who donated P30 million for the 2022 senatorial bid of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero. 

“Ibig sabihin meron siyang asset na P30 million na binigay niya, so ibabangga naman natin ito sa mga tax returns na sinampa niya. Kung ‘yun bang kaniyang buwis ay tumutugma doon sa asset na ito,” he said.

(It means he has an asset worth P30 million that he gave, so we will compare this against the tax returns he filed. Whether the taxes he paid match this asset.)

“Titignan po namin ‘yan (we will look into that),” he added. 

Escudero and Lubiano were recently cleared by the Commission on Elections' Political Finance and Affairs Department, which said that the donation did not violate the Omnibus Election Code as Lubiano and his firm are separate entities. 

Meanwhile, the commissioner said that more complaints will be filed over anomalous flood control projects.

This is the third complaint filed by the BIR with the DOJ.

In October, the BIR filed multiple tax complaints against contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya and a corporate officer over P7.1 billion in tax liabilities from 2018 to 2021. 

The second complaint was filed against former Department of Public Works and Highways engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza over P1.6 billion in income tax deficiencies from 2020 to 2024. —AOL, GMA Integrated News