BIR files P168-M tax evasion case vs Kapa founder’s wife

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Thursday filed a P168.2-million tax evasion case against Reyna Lobitaña Apolinario, wife of Kapa Community Ministry International, Inc. (Kapa) founder Joel Apolinario, before the Department of Justice.

This came after revelations last month by corporate regulators that the assets of the Mindanao-based religious pastor were all lodged under the name of his wife.

Based on BIR’s investigation, Reyna has not filed her income tax return (ITR) from 2012 to 2015. But in 2016 and 2017, BIR said she filed her ITR declaring an income of only P206,578.00 and P171,100.00, respectively. In 2018, BIR noted, Reyna filed her ITR stating an income of P12.06 million.

BIR also discovered Reyna’s undeclared sources of income worth P307.70-million for 2017. This includes cash worth PP140-million; luxury vehicles worth P27.60-million; heavy equipment worth P65.70-million; real properties worth P45.10 million, as well as other assets/investments.

BIR further cited records from the Land Transportation Office (LTO), which showed that nine vehicles were under Reyna’s name in 2017 and 2018.

Moreover, BIR found Reyna owns businesses like retail-construction, gasoline stations, convenience stores, computer and printing services, quarry, fishing boat, bakeshop, hotel, and media and marketing.

Reyna is a businesswoman currently registered with Revenue District Office No. 110, with a registered address at Arenas Building, Pioneer Avenue, Dadiangas West in General Santos City. She is also the corporate secretary of Kapa.

As a result of her acts and omissions, BIR said, Reyna was sued for an estimated income tax liability amounting to P168.2 million, inclusive of surcharges and interests, broken down into P163.9 million for 2017 and P4.3 million in 2018.

The case against Reyna is the 497th filed under the Run After Tax Evaders program of BIR under Commissioner Caesar Dulay. /kga