Rappler is now in a
very deep hole.
The Department of
Justice indicts online news outfit Rappler, its Chief Executive Officer Maria Ressa
and its independent certified public accountant Noel Baladiang for tax evasion.
Rappler has
violated the Tax Code, said assistant State prosecutor Zenamar
Machacon-Caparros.
Last March the
Bureau of Internal Revenue cited Rappler Holdings Corp. (RHC)for alleged
"willful attempt to evade or defeat tax" and its "deliberate
failure to supply correct and accurate information" in its 2015 tax return.
BIR said that Rappler
Holdings Corp.(RHC) bought a total pf 119,434438 common shares from Rappler,
Inc. at P1 per share and "acted as a middleman whose profits were taxable
under the Tax Code."
It maybe recalled
that Rappler ‘s registration was revoked by the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC) for its non-compliance with the constitutional limit for foreign
ownership of media companies.
Then BIR filed the
tax evasion case against Rappler Holdings Corporation.
RHC is the parent
company of the online news media outfit Rappler Incorporated whose primary
purpose is to buy and sell real and personal properties, according to the BIR.
The BIR made a
statement then that the RHC there was "deliberate failure" by RHC to
provide correct information in its income tax return and value added tax (VAT)
in 2015.
It said RHC bought
shares amounting to P19.25 million from Rappler Incorporated and then issued
and sold Philippine Depository Receipts (PDRs) worth P181M to two foreign
entities.
No income tax and
VAT were paid by RHC in 2015 for the income it gained in the PDR transactions,
BIR said.
"As a
consequence of its acts and omissions, the aggregate tax liability of RHC
amounted to P133,841,305," BIR said.
The BIR also filed
a complaint against accountant Noel Baladiang of RG Manabat & Company
"for signing and certifying the financial statement of RHC despite the
clear omission and misstatement of his client."
The outspoken Rappler
CEO, Maria Ressa called the action by the BIR as “ludicrous” and urged the BIR
to "check its own records." Rappler has been paying its taxes
accurately, promptly, and diligently, with no less than the BIR commending it
as one of Revenue Region 7's top 500 corporate taxpayers.
"This is clear
intimidation and harassment. The government is wasting its energy and resources
in an attempt to silence reporting that does not please the
administration," CEO Ressa said.
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4 Comments
Kng mahuli kayo sabihin kaagad harassment...magbayad muna kayo
ReplyDeleteharrassment mo mukha mo! d kayo nagbayad ng tamang buwis, kasalanan na ng Pangulo na naman!
ReplyDeletePay your tax!
Lahat kaung mga kurap na kasabwat ng Dilawan dahan2x ng hinuhuli dahil sa mga kapalpakan nyo. Malakas ang loob nyo na hindi mag bayad ng tax dahil kapit nyo ang Abnong Presidente at ngayon isisi nyo kay PRRD ang sinapit nyo?!! Magbayad kau ng tax nyo dahil obligasyon ng sinoman na kumikita ng mag bayad nun!Lalo kpa papangit ngayon Maria Ressa 🤣🤣
ReplyDeleteMagbayad ang may utang sa tax. Para tapos ang usapan.
ReplyDelete