Corona arraignment on tax evasion case set Dec. 8

Former Chief Justice Renato Corona. FILE PHOTO/SENATE POOL

MANILA, Philippines–The Court of Tax Appeals has set the arraignment on the tax evasion case against former Chief Justice Renato Corona on Dec. 8.

The arraignment was scheduled after the tax court denied for lack of merit the appeal of the former magistrate to reverse the denial of his motion to quash.

Coronal sought the dismissal of the tax evasion case filed against him, arguing in his motion to quash that the information filed against him did not constitute an offense as stated under Rule 117 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure.
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) of the National Internal Revenue Code.

Based on the BIR complaint, Corona did not declare all his assets in his Statement of Assets Liabilities and Networth (SALNs).

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 along 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 and comparing Corona’s bank records with his networth, the BIR said a substantial disparity was discovered 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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