Fair tax evasion probe for Corona–BIR chief

Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares on Monday assured ousted Renato Corona of a fair investigation on alleged tax evasion charges against the former high court magistrate.
In a chance interview at the Senate after the committee hearing on Banks, Financial Institution and Currencies joint with the Congressional Oversight Committee on the Anti-Money Laundering Law, Henares said that the BIR is continuing its investigation on the possible tax evasion.
The charges arose during the impeachment trial of chief justice Corona at the Senate.

In her testimony during the trial in February, Henares said that they discovered discrepancies in Corona’s tax declaration versus his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth from 1992 to 2010.
“Mayroon dapat i-explain [Explanations are necessary],” Henares said.
Henares also admitted that much of the evidence that they have gathered were already presented during the trial.
“But we will not investigate with a conclusion in mind. Parang may problema, mayroon ba talaga or wala,” Henares said.
“I would like to assure chief justice Corona that when the BIR, when we investigate, we find out if there is something wrong not find out that there is something wrong,” she added.