(Sa P1.2-B tax evasion case) VAPE DISTRIBUTOR PINAARESTO

TAGUMPAY ang Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) sa kampanya nito laban sa mga tax evader makaraang magpalabas ang local courts ng warrants of arrest laban sa mga opisyal ng isang kompanya na may kinalaman sa vape distribution at nahaharap sa mahigit P1.2 billion na tax raps.

Sa isang statement, sinabi ni BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. na ang kaso laban sa mga opisyal ng Tap Fog ay nag-ugat sa isang raid noong November 2022, noong siya ay deputy commissioner pa ng Operations Group ng bureau.

Ayon kay Lumagui, ang mga kaso ay nakabimbin sa Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) at sa  Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) na ipinag-utos na ang pag-iisyu ng  warrants of arrest laban sa Tap Fog group.

“This is a testament to our promise that after the execution of raids, cases will be filed. In the case of Tap Fog, a big-fish vape seller, the courts have already ordered the issuance of warrants of arrests. The BIR is closely monitoring the vape industry. Comply with the registration and taxation requirements under our laws. The vape industry is already a regulated industry, the BIR has already established a system for the proper registration and payment for this purpose,” dagdag pa niya.

Ang tinatayang civil liability na nakasaad sa icriminal complaint ay P1,240,748,088, kasama na ang mga multa at penalties.

Ang mga akusado ay kinasuhan ng unlawful possession or removal of articles subject to excise tax without payment of the tax in violation of Section 263; selling of heated tobacco products and vapor products at a price lower than the combined excise and value-added taxes in violation of Section 263-A; selling or offering for sale any box or package containing articles subject to excise tax with false, spurious or counterfeit stamps or labels or selling from any such fraudulent box, package or container as aforementioned in violation of Section 265; willful attempt to evade or defeat tax in violation of Section 254, at willful failure to pay taxes in violation of Section 255, in relation to Sections 15, 171, 172 and 253 (d), of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

Samantala, sinabi ni Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla na ang kaganapan ay nagpapakita sa layunin ng pamahalaan na maparusahan ang mga tax evader.

“Noong araw kasi, ang prosecutor o judge discretion niya kung ipa-file niya ‘yung kaso. We have taken away that discretion because the interest of the state is at hand. Pagka walang mag-aalaga sa interest ng state, ano mangyayari? That’s why we have set a reminder to our prosecutors that here we are prosecutors for the state,” sabi ni Remulla sa isang press briefing.

PAULA ANTOLIN, PNA