Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 29) — Prosecutors have dismissed the ₱88.86-million tax evasion case filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) against businessman Joseph Calata and Agri Phil Corp.
In a resolution dated Feb. 27, the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed the three counts of tax evasion slapped by the BIR against Calata and Agri Phil Corp. “for lack of probable cause and due to insufficiency of evidence.”
The resolution was signed by Assistant State Prosecutor Jenny De Castro and recommended by Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Peter Ong. Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento approved the resolution of the case.
In October 2022, the BIR said the respondents had a total tax liability of ₱88.86 million, inclusive of increments, for the taxable year 2012.“However, complainant submitted only 10, instead of 30, sets of certified true copies of the documents that form part of the complaint,” the DOJ document read.The DOJ said it was a violation of Department Circular No. 005 issued on April 11, 2019, which requires the BIR and the Bureau of Customs to submit no less than 10 sets of certified true copies of the documents that form part of a complaint.The circular also states that failure to comply with the requirements shall be cause for the outright dismissal of a complaint.
