DOJ files raps vs gov鈥檛 contractor over use of ghost receipts
FILE PHOTO: DOJ logo. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday filed tax evasion cases before the Court of Tax Appeals against government contractor Hilmarc’s Construction Corporation over alleged use of ghost receipts.
“The Department of Justice, after careful review of the pieces of evidence, found prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction to charge Hilmarc’s and its corporate officers Efren M. Canlas, Robert B. Henson, and Cristina Elisse F. Canlas for violation of Sections 254 (Attempt to Evade or Defeat Tax) and 255 (Failure to Supply Correct and Accurate Information) in relation to Sections 253(d) and 256 of the Tax Code,” the DOJ said in a statement on Friday.
The DOJ added that the contractor is also facing civil liabilities worth P176,363,284.77 basic tax liabilities.
It noted that the filing stemmed from the complaint of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in a bid to address transactions using ghost receipts.
The DOJ also said that fake receipts or invoices issued by ghost companies Unimaker Enterprises Inc. and Everpacific Incorporated appeared to be legitimate transactions.
Article continues after this advertisement“[t]he said fraudulent receipts/invoices were used to claim input tax in its VAT [value added tax] Returns and as an expense in its Income Tax Returns filed with the BIR,” the DOJ added.
Article continues after this advertisementIt also emphasized that the use of fraudulent receipts “resulted to billions of losses to the government.”
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla stressed that government contractors are not exempted from their tax obligations, emphasizing that “the State expects from them, more than anyone else, the highest quality of diligence in following tax laws.”
Arrest warrants will also be issued to the contractor and its officers.
The contractor was previously tagged in the alleged irregularities of the bidding for infrastructure projects of Makati City.
