Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda on Wednesday lauded the Bureau of Internal Revenue for filing charges against three companies for their fraudulent use of tax receipts.
“I commend Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. for his aggressive campaign to stamp out large-scale tax fraud. The BIR filed one of its largest tax liability cases with the Department of Justice today. It signals a commitment to run after big-time tax evaders,” Salceda said in a statement.
This relates to allegedly fraudulent use of tax receipts by three private companies to avoid paying tax liabilities aggregating P18 billion.
“Tax racketeering, which is systematic and involves conspiracy to defraud the government of tax dues, is punishable by 10 to 17 years in prison, and if they are public officials, they will also be disqualified from public office for life. That’s under our proposal,” Salceda said.
“The magnitude of these cases demonstrates that this is no longer mere tax evasion. This is economic sabotage and a systematic attempt to undermine the tax system of the country. Taxes are the lifeblood of the government, as jurisprudence establishes. Fraud of this scale seriously injures our ability to serve the needs of our people.
Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda
“That is why the enactment of the Anti-Tax Racketeering Act could not come sooner. I appeal to my Senate counterparts to accelerate the enactment of this measure in support of the BIR’s efforts,” the legislator said.
According to Salceda, the magnitude of the deceit against government “requires a stronger punishment.”
