DOJ names prosecutors in tax evasion raps vs Mikey Arroyo, spouse

Justice Sec. Leila de Lima has named the department prosecutors that will look into the Bureau of Internal Revenue's (BIR) P73.85 million tax evasion complaint against Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel "Mikey" Arroyo and his wife, Angela. Mikey is the eldest son of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. In Department Order No. 292 issued last week, De Lima tasked Senior State Prosecutor Lagrimas Agaran, and Assistant State Prosecutors Mederlyn Mangalindan and Ma. Cristina Barot to conduct the preliminary investigation on the complaint against the couple. The preliminary inquiry seeks to determine whether there is probable cause to file a case against the respondents. Once probable cause is determined, the prosecutors handling the case file the proper information (a written legal pleading) before the appropriate court. On April 7, the BIR filed its complaint with the DOJ alleging that the couple violated the National Internal Revenue Code for their alleged willfull failure to file their income tax returns and substantial underdeclaration of income. Section 254 of the Tax Code requires the filing of income tax returns while Section 255 of the same code requires the payment of taxes. The bureau said that a scrutiny of Mikey's Statements of Assets and Liabilities and Networth (SALN) from 2002 to 2009 would show that from 2004 to 2009, the lawmaker and his wife bought millions-worth of properties, including houses, vehicles, and shares of stock. However, the BIR noted: "Despite receipt of substantial amounts of income, the Arroyo spouses repeatedly failed to file any annual income tax return (ITR) and to pay the corresponding taxes due thereon." The bureau alleged that Mikey did not file his ITR in 2005, 2008, and 2009 while Angela was declared as a one-time tax-payer in 2004. "They claim they have all these assets but no ITR has ever been reported by Angela Montenegro Arroyo," said BIR commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares. Listed below is the BIR's computation of the couple's tax liabilities arising from their alleged non-filing of income tax returns and underdeclaration of income:

Mikey has since denied he and his wife evaded their duties to declare and pay taxes. He added that the administration of President Benigno Aquino III is out to harass him. Mikey also decried the BIR's supposed haste in filing a tax evasion complaint against him without according him due process. - VVP, GMA News