Rappler’s Ressa posts P204K bail for tax evasion cases

Maria Ressa — INQUIRER/JOAN BONDOC

Rappler Holdings Corp. (RHC) President Maria Ressa on Tuesday posted bail of P204, 000 before the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA).

Rappler is facing cases for violation of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), particularly one count and three counts for breach of Sections 254 and 255, respectively, for willful attempt to evade or defeat tax and for deliberate failure to supply correct and accurate information.

Bail was set at P60,000 for each count of Section 255 violation, and P24,000 for violation of Section 254. The total amount was paid at the CTA First Division.

Arraignment was also scheduled on January 23, 2019.

The complaint against Rappler was filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) last March. Based on the complaint, RHC and Ressa failed to indicate in RHCs 2015 tax returns the total gain of almost P162.5-million for its issuance of Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs) to Washington DC-based NBM Rappler LP, a unit of North Base Media and Omidyar Network Find LLC (Omidyar).

READ: DOJ OKS tax evasion rap vs Rappler

Rappler earlier branded the complaint as a form of harassment on the part of the Duterte administration.  /kga