Complaint vs. Harry Roque to push through even if he is not in the Philippines — BIR

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said proceedings against former presidential spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque will push through regardless if he is in the Philippines or not.

In a Balitanghali interview on Wednesday, BIR spokesperson Atty. Brian Kay Delos Santos said that the complaint had already been filed with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and is now undergoing preliminary investigation.

“Ang proseso po ng batas on the conduct of filing of cases yun po ang masusunod. So kahit wala po siya sa Pilipinas, magpo-proceed naman po ang court proceedings against him,” she shared.

(The process of the law on the conduct of filing of cases will be followed. Even if he is not in the Philippines, the court proceedings against him will proceed.)

The BIR earlier filed a tax evasion case against Roque, his wife Mylah, and associate Percival Sazon Ortega for alleged tax evasion involving Biancham Holdings and Trading, Inc. and increasing authorized capital tax inn 2015.

They noted that the tax deficiency amounted to more than P3.35 million, inclusive of surcharges and interest.

For his part, Roque said the complaint filed by the BIR is part of a “continuing pattern” of actions that are “politically motivated."

“These filings form part of a continuing pattern of actions which we believe are politically motivated and intended to harass and pressure individuals associated with, or perceived to be supportive of, the Duterte administration,” Roque said in his Facebook post.

Roque also called the complaint “legally and factually baseless,” pointing out that there had been no issuance of shares pursuant to the alleged increase in authorized capital stock and the all required tax returns had been properly and diligently filed in accordance with the law.

“Absent actual issuance or subscription of shares, there is no taxable event that could give rise to liability under Philippine tax law,” Roque said.  “The allegations are therefore premised on a misunderstanding of basic corporate and tax principles. Any suggestion of tax liability at this stage is unfounded and premature."

However, Delos Santos denied allegations that the case is politically motivated and legally baseless.

“On the end of the BIR since we have verified, may verified findings kami na yung mga taxes sa pagtransfer ng shares ay hindi po bayad. Hindi naman po siya politically motivated,” she said.

(On the end of BIR since we have verified, we have verified findings that the taxes for the transfer of shares were not paid. It really isn’t politically motivated.) — Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/RSJ, GMA News