DZIQ: Arroyo son cries ‘political harassment’

MANILA, Philippines—(UPDATE) Ang Galing Pinoy partylist Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo on Thursday described as “pure political harassment” the tax evasion cases filed against him and his wife Angela by the Bureau of Internal Revenue at the Department of Justice, according to a report on Radyo Inquirer.

“I am not against the government filing cases against supposed tax evaders. What I am questioning here is the lack of due process being employed by the administration,” Arroyo said in a press statement.

He said he received a notice of audit from the BIR only two days ago. In the notice, he said he was given 10 days to submit some documents deemed necessary. The case stemmed from their alleged failure to file their income tax returns from 2003 to 2009.

The BIR said the two had a total tax liability of at least P73.85 million, inclusive of surcharges and interest.

According to Arroyo, he was willing to send his lawyer to the BIR office in Quezon City to answer all the queries.

“But surprisingly, they filed the case against me and my wife just two days after I received their notice, not waiting for the ten days they have given to lapse,” he said. “Clearly, this administration is resorting to political gimmickry as its popularity rating is declining.”

He cited the Aquino administration’s failure to stop the rising prices of fuel, electricity, water, canned goods, bread and other basic products.  He said that while the approval ratings of the vice president, the Supreme Court and Congress continued to rise, the President’s rating was consistently declining, thus the need to “resort to this kind of gimmickry.”

Arroyo said this scheme was unfortunate because if BIR officials could do this to an elected public official like him, nothing would stop them from doing the same kind of harassment to ordinary people.

“My conscience is clear,” Arroyo said.  “I have done nothing wrong. Now that the case is already in court and the rules of evidence will finally govern this issue, I am confident I will be vindicated.”

For the full report, listen to Radyo Inquirer, DZIQ 990 AM.