Napoles couple seek more time to answer tax evasion raps

The Department of Justice panel on the tax evasion case against the Napoles couple started its preliminary investigation Monday, with the respondents’ lawyer seeking for more time for his clients to answer the charges. Video by INQUIRER.net’s Ryan Leagogo

MANILA, Philippines—Janet Lim-Napoles and her husband Jaime sought more time to answer the tax evasion case filed against them by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

During Monday’s preliminary investigation, only Atty. Romeo Villarta III appeared before the DOJ panel led by Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edna Valenzuela. He sought for more time to answer the complaint filed against his clients.

Photo by RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.NET

Based on the BIR complaint, Janet Napoles has incurred P44.68 million unpaid taxes while her husband Jaime has incurred P16.43-million tax liability.

Villarta said he was sent by the Napoleses to merely move for an extension of time to file their counter-affidavits.

Villarta said his clients have yet to find a lawyer that will handle the tax case filed against them.

The panel ordered Villarta to submit a letter of authority from the Napoles couple to show that he was really authorized to speak on their behalf.

The panel set the next hearing on Nov. 5 and required the Napoles couple to personally appear and subscribe their counter affidavits.

Other members of the panel include Assistant State Prosecutor Stewart Allan Mariano and Prosecution Attorney Mark Roland Estepa.