Mikey Arroyo: It’s pure harassment

MANILA, Philippines—Ang Galing Pinoy Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo described as “pure political harassment” the tax evasion cases that the Bureau of Internal Revenue filed against him and his wife Angela in the Department of Justice.

The case stemmed from the couple’s alleged failure to file 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.

“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.

Arroyo, elder son of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, 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 in the case.

Coming to the defense of the congressman, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri wondered why President Benigno Aquino III was targeting only Arroyo administration officials.

Zubiri said Mr. Aquino should also go after his own allies. “They filed a case against Pichay. They filed a case against Mikey. It seems that there is a perceived harassment against the previous administration,” the senator said.

The BIR filed a graft case on Wednesday against Pichay, head of the Local Water Utilities Administration, in connection with a bank deal.

Secretary Ricky Carandang of the Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office said the administration was investigating cases of corruption that it uncovered.

“It does not begin with an individual from the last administration being specifically targeted. It begins with the discovery of an anomaly and then an investigation of that anomaly,” Carandang said.

“And when the investigation leads to certain individuals, that becomes the consequence,” he added.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the Aquino administration was not targeting the former First Family in its drive against corruption.

Lacierda said the administration was gathering evidence in cases of corruption uncovered in the various departments but was not building up a case against the former President and her officials.

Arroyo said 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 10 days they have given to lapse,” he said.

Gimmickry

“Clearly, this administration is resorting to political gimmickry as its popularity rating is declining,” Arroyo said.

He cited the Aquino administration’s failure to arrest the rising prices of fuel, electricity, water, canned goods, bread and other basic commodities.

Arroyo said that while the 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.”

The congressman said this scheme was rather 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,” he 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.”

Zubiri advice

Zubiri advised Arroyo to get the best lawyers.

“The BIR has to do its job and let the court decide on this particular issue,” he said.

Asked if the case could be a form of political vendetta, he said: “If the former members of the previous administration have nothing to hide, then they have nothing to fear.”

“If the BIR or any agency sees possible violations of the law, no one should be exempt,” he said. “But let me stress—this should also be done to allies of this administration, who are possible violators of the law.”

Due process

Lacierda said the administration was not targeting any specific person.

“The President has said that even if they’re with the opposition, we’ll give them due process,” he said.

Lacierda said Arroyo could very well answer the charges against him.

“The best measure of good governance is to give your enemy due process and fairness,” he added. Reports from Cynthia D. Balana, Christian V. Esguerra and Norman Bordadora