BIR shuts down 60 establishments in Soccsksargen for underreporting sales

OPLAN KANDADO. Bureau of Internal Revenue Revenue Region 18 Regional Director Rodrigo L. Rivamonte (center in dark blue polo shirt) led BIR officials and personnel, backed by police, in enforcing a closure order Friday on business establishments in the Soccsksargen region for violation of internal revenue laws. BIR photo

TACURONG CITY, Sultan Kudarat — Personnel of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)–Revenue Region 18 on Friday shut down 60 business establishments in the Soccsksargen region for underreporting of earnings, which is a violation of internal revenue laws.

BIR regional director Rodrigo L. Rivamonte, led the closure for the various businesses registered under owner Marites Laforteza Mones, which has an office registered in Tacurong City under Revenue District Office (RDO) 109.

Revenue Region 18 covers Soccsksargen composed of Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Sarangani provinces and General Santos City.

Mones operates 42 pharmacies, five FM radio stations, six restaurants, two beauty salons, and a business arcade, among others.

BIR Deputy Commissioner for Operations Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr. signed the closure orders, Rivamonte said.

The closures stemmed from surveillance on the daily sales of the taxpayer, he added.

“It was established that there was an under-declaration of sales by more than 30 percent,” Rivamonte said.

Rivamonte said the closure order could be lifted once the taxpayer had paid the deficiency taxes including penalties.

The Inquirer tried but failed to reach Mones for comment.

RDO-109 led by revenue district officer Aileen Punzalan, RDO 111 headed by revenue district officer Evelyn Mallillin, RDO 110 headed by revenue district officer Samer Muti, and RDO 108 led by revenue district officer Daisy Franco carried out the closure orders.

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