Palace: No campaign vs. Arroyo allies in tax evasion drive

Contrary to the claim of an embattled son of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Malacañang on Wednesday said it is not singling out the former president's allies in its drive against tax evasion. The former president’s son, Camarines Sur Representative Diosdado “Dato" Arroyo, faces a Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) investigation into his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN).
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Arroyo called this “another tactic of Malacañang to divert the people's attention from the real state of our country by going after those associated with the previous administration." Reacting to Arroyo’s statement, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda claimed during a press briefing Wednesday that the Palace has not launched any campaign against the family of the former President, adding that the anti-tax evasion drive covers other public officials as well. “Nakahingi na rin po ang BIR ng mga SALN ng iba't ibang mga kongresista," Lacierda pointed out. He added that it is the BIR, not Malacañang, which decides whose financial statements the agency will have to look into. “We don't know kung ano ang decision ni Commissioner Kim Henares. We don’t dictate what she should do," Lacierda said. He also said the Palace considers a “trail of evidence" first before indicting a person. BIR also probing dozen of solons A dozen other lawmakers are undergoing BIR scrutiny regarding tax payments, Henares added. Last month, the BIR filed a P73.85-million tax evasion case against Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey" Arroyo, along with his wife Angela. In a report on GMA newscast “24 Oras," the son of former President Arroyo called the charge a case of harassment.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Referring to Arroyo’s case, however, Henares said, “It’s not just him." ‘Double standard’ Meanwhile, some lawmakers in the Lower House have raised a howl on the present administration’s supposedly double-standard approach in tax evasion issues, saying Aquino allies usually get a “quick absolution" from these unlike allies of the former President, who is now the representative of Pampanga’s Second District. Critics have cited the case of Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, who has been accused of delinquency in paying his taxes – an allegation that initially surfaced during hearings the Commission on Appointments held for the position of Finance chief. “If they want an explanation, all they need to do is to request from the Commission on Appointments the transcript of the confirmation hearings of Secretary Purisima," Lacierda said. He then asked minority lawmakers to become “a little bit more diligent." “Those are public documents. They can just request it from the secretary of the Commission on Appointments. Napaliwanag na po ni Secretary Purisima... This is old news. He will be the last person to violate tax laws," he explained. — With Paterno Esmaquel II/VS, GMA News