Napoles couple given up to Friday to answer tax evasion raps

Jaime and Janet Napoles. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–The Department of Justice (DoJ) gave Janet Lim-Napoles and her husband Jaime up to Friday to submit their counter affidavit on the P61 million tax evasion complaint filed against them by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

During preliminary investigation with the DoJ on Wednesday, the Napoles couple submitted their answer (counter-affidavit) to the BIR complaint that was subscribed to a private lawyer instead of a public prosecutor.

Senior Assistant State Prosecutor Edna Valenzuela, head of the three-man investigating team said Napoles, who is detained in a police camp in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, could subscribe her counter-affidavit before a Laguna prosecutor.

Lawyers representing the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), meanwhile, asked the panel to submit the complaint for resolution even if the Napoleses will fail to submit their written defense.

The BIR is seeking P44.68 million in unpaid dues from Napoles while her husband has a tax liability amounting to P16.43 million.

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