by Leonard Postrado
Prosecutor General Claro Arellano confirmed that the panel headed by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edna Valenzuela affirmed the April 26, 2013 resolution of the DOJ which found probable cause to charge Corona with violations of Sections 254 and 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) on tax evasion and willful failure to file income tax returns.Violation of Section 254 is punishable by P30,000 to P100,000 in fines and imprisonment of two to four years, in addition to his liability for the tax due. Violation of Section 255, on the other hand, is punishable by a fine of not less than P10,000 and imprisonment of one to 10 years.
Corona is facing six counts of violation of Section 254 and six counts of Section 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC).
“We are inclined to believe that the documentary evidence presented by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) still outweighs the bare allegations made by Corona. We note that aside from his empty claims that his other funds were merely comingled with the accounts of his other family members, etc, [he] miserably failed to substantiate the same,” Arellano told reporters in an interview.
Corona reportedly paid P120,000 bail before the CTA last March 4, Tuesday.
The CTA Third Division set the arraignment of the former Chief Justice on March 26, 2014 while the CTA Second Division has set the arraignment of the former Chief Justice on April 2, 2014.
In a three-page resolution of the Valenzuela panel, it effectively denied the motion for reconsideration filed by the former Chief Justice. It was signed and approved by Prosecutor General Claro Arellano.
Valenzuela stated that the arguments presented by the former Chief Justice are rehashed and warrants his indictment.
The BIR, following an investigation, concluded that the former Chief Justice was liable for P120,498,219.52, inclusive of surcharges and interest.
In the BIR complaint, it alleged that Corona did not include in his statement of assets and liabilities (SALN) his condominium unit at The Columns on Ayala Avenue which he bought worth P3.6 million in 2004 and his property at Fort Bonifacio worth P9.16 million which he acquired in 2005.
The revenue agency claimed that for nine years Corona did not pay his taxes worth P120.5 million.
In a complaint filed before the DOJ, BIR Commissioner Kim Henares said that Corona and his kin failed to file their income tax returns from 2003 to 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2010.
Worth P150.68 million of tax charges were filed against Corona, son-in-law Constantino Castillo III, and his daughter Ma. Carla Beatriz Castillo.
Corona, who was ousted by a 20-3 vote in the Senate on May 29, 2012, following a six-month impeachment trial, denounced the indictment.
In a text message to reporters, Corona stated that he was a victim of “insatiable gluttony of senators and congressmen” over Malacañang’s bribery on the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) and the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
“I was a victim of PDAF and DAP anomaly that whetted the insatiable gluttony of many senators and congressmen for public funds,” Corona strongly stated.
Reacting to Corona’s allegations, Malacañang urged the former Chief Justice to just face the tax evasion charges filed against him.
“Former Chief Justice Corona is being held accountable with respect to paymentof correct taxes,” Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said.
Corona also accused Justice Secretary Leila de Lima for acting in conspiracy with Malacañang to pressure the prosecutors handling the case against him.
To the extent that De Lima sacked Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Roseanne Balauag and replaced her with Valenzuela, he said.
“From the very start, I never had any illusions about getting fairness and justice from the DOJ whose head, De Lima, testified so virulently against me during my sham, bribe-laden impeachment trial,” he said. (With a report from Genalyn D. Kabiling)
http://www.mb.com.ph/corona-charged-with-p120-m-tax-evasion/
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