The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed tax evasion charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday, Oct. 8, against contractors Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya for tax liabilities exceeding P7.1 billion from 2018 to 2021.
“Nagsampa na tayo ng kaso laban sa spouses Discaya and corporate officers ng mga ibang korporasyon na hawak nila,” said BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. who led the filing of the criminal complaints.
Lumagui said that three sets of cases were filed against the Discaya spouses who were assessed a total tax liability of P7,182,172,532.25.
The first set of cases involved the Discaya couple’s failure to pay their individual income taxes for taxable years 2018 to 2021.
The second set of cases involved their decision to divest from some of their corporations — St. Gerrard, St. Timothy, St. Matthew, and Alpha and Omega.
Lumagui explained: “‘Pag nag-divest ka sa isang korporasyon, nagbenta ka ng stocks sa isang korporasyon, may kaukulang pagbabayad ng buwis d’yan.”
“Nakita rin natin na hindi rin bayad ang tungkol sa paglipat ng shares of stocks na ito kaya meron din silang failure to file DST or document stamp tax and tax evasion d’yan,” he said.
The third set of cases involved the failure of the Discayas and St. Gerard to file excise tax returns and pay the excise taxes of nine luxury vehicles under their names, he also said.
The Discaya spouses have asked the DOJ that they be turned state witnesses in the “anomalous” flood control projects.
Even if the Discayas become state witnesses and become immune from liability from the cases concerning the anomalies, Lumagui stressed: “Kinakailangan nilang bayaran itong buwis na ‘to.” (Jeffrey Damicog)
