Former Chief Justice Renato Corona. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The Court of Tax Appeals’ (CTA) second division on Wednesday deferred anew the arraignment of impeached chief justice Renato Corona for tax evasion charges filed against him by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
In a report by Edwin Aguilon of Radyo Inquirer, the CTA postponed Corona’s arraignment for six violations of Section 254 of the National Internal Revenue Code while waiting for the written reply or comment of the prosecution on the motion for reconsideration filed by the defense last April 28.
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).
The charges were rooted from Corona’s alleged failure to file income tax returns for the years 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2010.
The arraignment is set on July 1 at 9 in the morning.
Following the postponement, the preliminary conferences originally set on May 11, May 25 and June 25 were also cancelled.
The prosecution has 10 days to file a comment on the motion upon receipt of the court’s order. According to the report, the prosecution received the order on May 4.
Last February 24, Corona was already arraigned for six violations of Section 255 of the NIRC, or failure to file income tax returns for the years 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2010, where he refused to enter a plea.
On the same day, the former magistrate’s lawyer insisted that Corona be arraigned only for violating Section 255 of the NIRC and not Section 255, arguing that same acts of tax evasions were covered by both sections. TVJ
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