Mikey Arroyo, wife seek dismissal of tax evasion case

TAX EVASION CASE Party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo (left) and his wife Angela swear to the veracity of their counteraffidavit before a panel of Department of Justice prosecutors on Monday in connection with the P73-million tax evasion case filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue against the son of the former President. At right is Arroyo’s lawyer, Ruy Rondain. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Accompanied by their lawyer Ruy Rondain, Arroyo and his wife, Ma. Angela M. Arroyo, swore to their joint counteraffidavit before a panel of DoJ prosecutors led by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Lagrimas Agaran.

In their affidavit, the couple asked the DoJ to dismiss the criminal complaint, saying that the BIR’s allegations they did not pay the correct taxes from 2003 to 2009 “have no basis in fact and in law.”

“(W)e have complied with all pertinent regulations and issuances issued by the BIR and the Department of Finance pertaining to the filing of income tax returns,” the Arroyos said.

They also accused the BIR of depriving them of due process by filing the case “prematurely.” They said the BIR did not observe its own 10-day rule for reviewing their books of accounts when the agency lodged its complaint on April 7.

Speaking with reporters before the proceeding, Arroyo said he and his wife were ready to prove that they did not refuse to pay some P73.85 million in income tax as alleged by the BIR.

Arroyo, son of former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, declined to elaborate on the contents of their joint affidavit with the media.

Unlike in previous media interviews, Arroyo did not go into his usual tirade against the Aquino administration.

“I don’t want to make any comment on that. No political questions please,” he said.

Rondain said his clients were confident the complaints would be dismissed for lack of evidence. He said the BIR’s computation of the Arroyos’ supposed tax liabilities “was bloated by 100 percent.”

“Even based on the computations of the BIR, the computations drawn were wrong,” he said, adding that Arroyo filed his income tax returns by “substitute filing” with the House of Representatives.