By Benjamin Pulta
MANILA – The Department of Justice has filed multiple charges against three industrial corporations for maliciously and willfully employing dirty business tactics to purposely defraud the State of its tax dues.
In a news release on Monday, the DOJ said 14 information against Total Metal Corporation, four against Equator Energy Corporation and two against Limhuaco Metal Industrial Incorporated were filed before the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) on Jan. 24, 2025 for violations of Sections 254 and 255, in relation to Section 253 (d) and 256 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) of 1997.
The criminal cases, which stemmed from the complaint filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) before the DOJ, were filed against the said corporations and their officers for buying/using fictitious receipts from ghost companies to maliciously evade the payment of taxes.
“The proper payment of taxes is the responsibility of every Filipino in order to ensure that government services are continuous, available and efficient at all times. Defrauding the government its due is similar to robbing our citizens these essential services they deserve and ultimately need,” Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.
The DOJ said warrants of arrest against the corporate officers of the three corporations are expected to be issued “in the soonest possible time.” (PNA)
