Lacierda: No need to probe Purisima ITRs

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda on Monday dismissed the need for another investigation on allegations that Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and his wife failed to file their income tax returns in 2007 and 2008. Lacierda also found no need to look into the alleged discrepancies in the income tax returns (ITRs) that Purisima had filed. Purisima had already explained and answered the charge before the Commission on Appointments (CA) during the deliberations on his confirmation, according to Lacierda. “Secretary Purisima has sufficiently explained his ITRs," Lacierda said. “We see no need for the investigation of Secretary Purisima’s income tax payment because that has already been amplified in the documents submitted to the Senate." Senator Francis Escudero, however, said Purisima should answer the charges especially because he heads the agency at the forefront of the anti-tax evasion campaign. — PE/VS, GMA News