Congress calls Purisima, Henares over controversial memo

The House of Representatives on Tuesday subpoenaed Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima and Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares to appear at next week’s ways and means committee hearing to explain a controversial memo requiring taxpayers to disclose more financial information than currently necessary.

Purisima and Henares failed to attend hearings of the committee the past three weeks and its members have threatened to charge them with contempt if they do not show up on Dec. 5.

Committee chairman and Batangas Representative Hermilando Mandanas said the lawmakers need to get the real score about Revenue Memorandum Circular 40-2011 issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue on September 5 which requires taxpayers to file a separate statement of assets, liabilities and net worth. Gil Cabacungan