Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 3) – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Friday said it is investigating 76 people linked to the government’s allegedly anomalous procurement deals with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation.
The BIR already submitted 23 tax records to the Senate in support of the Blue Ribbon Committee’s probe into the ₱7.2-billion deal between Pharmally and the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM).
A total of 115 Letters of Authority to conduct tax audit against the taxpayers were also issued, the agency added.
“We will thoroughly check and verify the tax compliance of these 76 taxpayers and be filing appropriate criminal complaints as warranted against those found to have violated the Tax Code,” said BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay.
Pharmally also has “unsupported” purchases in 2020 worth ₱3.4 billion, including luxury cars and supply deals with cargo firms worth ₱10.9 million, according to tax expert Mon Abrea.
Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Richard Gordon said the “unsupported” purchases made by Pharmally could have been ghost deliveries and someone pocketed the money.
Abrea – who testified in the hearing – also said Pharmally can be “possibly” held due to the unexplained purchases, and the BIR may go after them.
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