MANILA – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will investigate controversial Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo for possible tax evasion.
BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. has tasked agency officials to cooperate with the ongoing Senate probe against Guo and to also look into the names and entities who figured during the hearings.
“I have commanded the whole BIR to cooperate with the Senate and look into the mentioned names of individuals and entities as well as their accumulated wealth,” said Lumagui.
Due process will be followed.
“If the income declared with the BIR does not match the value of the properties amassed during the same taxable years, criminal cases for tax evasion will be filed,” said Lumagui.
Lumagui also said that the same charges can be filed against conspirators and the corporate officers of companies “used to amass such wealth.”
“The cash, properties, and other sources of wealth shown during the Denate hearings should be substantiated with proper payment of taxes,” Lumagui said.
Lumagui also called on all informants, whether from the private sector or government agencies, to provide the necessary documents and pieces of evidence in auditing Guo and other entities identified in the ongoing Senate probe.
Guo is currently under preventive suspension; she is being investigated for possible links to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operation (POGO) hubs in Bamban, Tarlac.
On Thursday, Guo formally appealed her suspension, saying the complaints filed against her over her alleged links to the criminal activities of POGO were baseless./PN
