Malampaya contractor faces tax evasion case

The Malampaya gas platform located 80 kilometers northwest of the coast of Palawan. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Internal Revenue on Thursday filed a tax evasion complaint with the Department of Justice against a contractor for several infrastructure projects funded by Malampaya in 2008.

The BIR said a complaint was filed against Lorenzo Bote Leoncio.

Leoncio deliberately failed to file correct and accurate information in his income tax return and value-added tax return in 2008, the BIR said.

Leoncio is the sole proprietor of LB Leoncio Trading and Construction (LBLTC).

LBLTC was contracted by the Provincial Government of Palawan to construct several infrastructure projects funded by Malampaya Funds during taxable year 2008.

Investigation showed that Leoncio declared in his ITR for taxable year 2008 gross revenues amounting to only P18.04 million. But documents gathered during the probe showed he earned over P91 million. His underdeclaration is P73.78 million or by 409 percent.

His tax liability is P78.65 million inclusive of surcharges and interest.

This is the second contractor for the Malampaya project slapped with a tax evasion complaint.

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