Daiana Menezes faces tax evasion raps but denies allegation

The Bureau of Internal Revenue on Thursday filed with the Department of Justice a tax evasion complaint against Daiana Menezes, a Brazilian model who successfully made a career as a Philippine television host and celebrity. At a news briefing at the DOJ, BIR commissioner Kim Hacinto-Henares said Daiana failed to declare her income and pay the proper amount of taxes from 2007 to 2009. Henares said that Daiana received a taxable income of P2.6 million during the said period. However, she "failed to pay any tax." The bureau is now requiring Daiana, one of the hosts of noontime show Eat Bulaga, to pay P983,658.07 in aggregate tax liabilities for 2007 to 2009. But the model-host, however, denied that she is evading her duties to pay taxes as a resident alien deriving her income in the Philippines, specifically through GMA Network, TAPE, Inc. and Baliwag Lechon Manok. "I don't know why I'm being sued [for] tax evasion. I'm willing to coordinate with BIR to check if there was something overlooked," Daiana told GMA News. In its complaint, the BIR noted that Daiana has secured herself a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) as part of the requirements in her applications for government permits, clearances, and official documents. "Under such registration, her tax type is 'not taxable,' which will show the willfulness of her act of evading payment of taxes," said Henares. 'Everything is being taken cared of' Meanwhile, in a text message sent to PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) at around 1:40 p.m. Thursday, Daiana stated: "The issue about my taxes is being addressed and I have been paying my taxes religiously. In fact, I am bound to pay before April 15 deadline. I may be Brazilian—but as someone working here in the Philippines, I am always respectful of its laws and policies." Her second text message read, "So wrong from BIR to put me in the news. It's so mali [wrong]. Somebody stupid made sumbong [a complaint] when I'm up to date naman and everything is being taken cared of." "I'm up to date with my taxes. I love the Philippines, and it's not yet April 15 and just to think my taxes are being taken care of," Daiana reiterated. - Sophia Regina Dedace, GMA News/ Nerisa Almo, PEP