BIR stakes claim on Imelda Marcos assets

Even the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is trying to get hold of former first lady Imelda Marcos’ property in San Juan earlier ordered seized in favor of the Philippine Commission on Good Government so that it can collect P43 billion in revenue taxes.

The BIR has put tax liens on the three pieces of Marcos’ property in view of the nonpayment of taxes, surcharges and interests in compliance with a January 2003 notice filed by then Commissioner Dakila Fonacier, documents showed.

The liens were annotated on the back of transfer certificates of title (TCTs) of the property that the Sandiganbayan had ordered seized in favor of the PCGG to satisfy a P43.8-million judgment cost.

A lien is a charge upon a real or personal property for the satisfaction of some debt or duty.

The property consists of a 1,584-square meter lot on Don Mariano Marcos St.; a 932-sq. m. lot on Claro M. Recto St.; and an 864-sq. m. lot at the corner of P. Guevarra and Maude streets, all in Maytunas, San Juan.

The liens, signed by Registry of Deeds Federico M. Cas, stated that the property was under obligation to pay the government P43,325,117,510.88 in Internal Revenue Tax, surcharge and interest.

The Commission on Audit has assigned a team to appraise the property that the Sandiganbayan had seized to enforce an order for her to pay a total of P43.8 million to the government.

The Sandiganbayan 5th Division issued an alias writ of execution against the property after the Ilocos Norte lawmaker failed to comply with the court order.

The court earlier ruled that some P10 million had been illegally transferred from the National Food Authority’s (NFA) account to a private account on orders of Imelda Marcos’ late husband, strongman Ferdinand Marcos. Its interest has ballooned to P33.8 million as of September this year.