Claire dela Fuente gets jail time for tax evasion

MANILA, Philippines — Singer Claire dela Fuente was sentenced to prison after being found guilty by the Court of Tax Appeals of seven counts of tax evasion.

The special court ruled that Dela Fuente failed for seven years to file the income tax returns of her bus firm Philippine Corinthian Liner Corporation (PCLC).

In a decision written by Associate Justice Ma. Belen M. Ringpis-Liban, the CTA said: “for each of the consolidated criminal cases, she is hereby SENTENCED to suffer the straight penalty of imprisonment of one (1) year.” There are a total of seven criminal cases that were the subjects of the resolution, which was promulgated on June 30.

The CTA also ordered her to pay a fine of P50,000 with subsidiary imprisonment in case she cannot afford to pay the fine.

The PCLC is also found guilty of violating Section 255 in relation to Section 256 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997. The company was ordered to pay a fine of P100,000 for each of the consolidated criminal cases.

The cases against Dela Fuente, whose real name is Clarita De Guzman, and the PCLC stemmed from the non-filing of income tax returns of the bus company from 1998 to 2004.

The information against Dela Fuente and PCLC was filed on January 5, 2009.

The PCLC is a domestic corporation engaged with transport and shuttle service, business carrier, and hauling, vulcanizing, auto repair, auto-building, manufacture, fabrication of chassis body and other auto parts and accessories and other related business.

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/MUF