MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed 12 counts of tax evasion case against former Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Former chief justice Renato C. Corona. FILE PHOTO
Prosecutor General Claro Arellano confirmed that the case was filed before the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) last March 3.
Arellano said last year the panel found enough basis to file the tax evasion case against Corona. Corona filed a motion for reconsideration to reverse the ruling but it was denied by the DOJ last week.
“Last year, the panel found probable cause for tax evasion against CJ Corona. CJ Corona filed MR (motion for reconsideration). We denied MR last week,” Arellano said.
Arellano said the former Chief Justice failed to present evidence that would warrant a reversal of the findings of the DOJ panel of investigators.
“We are inclined to believe that the documentary evidence presented by the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) still outweighs the allegations of Corona,” Arellano said.
Corona is facing a tax liability of P120.5 million for violation of Sections 255 (failure to file income tax return) and 254 (attempt to evade payment of taxes).
Arellano said Corona already paid P120,000 bail or P10,000 for each count of tax and arraignment is set on March 26 for the cases pending with the Third Division and April 2 for cases pending with the Second Division.
Based on the BIR complaint, Corona did not declare all his assets in his Statement of Assets Liabilities and Networth.
Aside from the bank deposits, he also did not declare two real properties he acquired during his stint in government: a condominium unit at the Columns on Ayala Avenue that he bought for P3.6 million in 2004 and a property in Fort Bonifacio that he bought for P9.16 million in 2005.
After examining Corona’s bank records and compared it with his networth, Henares said they discovered a substantial disparity between the acquisition cost of the properties declared in his SALNs and the cost declared in the certificates authorizing registrations.
Corona was removed from office through impeachment in 2012.
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