Mikey Arroyo pleads not guilty in tax raps

Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Representative Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo was finally arraigned Wednesday on tax evasion charges before the Court of Tax Appeals in Quezon City.

But the eldest son of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declined to enter a plea to three counts of tax evasion which stemmed from his alleged failure to declare the appropriate income tax in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

First Division Associate Justice Esperanza Fabon Victorino said a not guilty plea will be entered on the young Arroyo’s behalf.

Lawyer Ruy Rondain, counsel of Arroyo, initially tried to stop the arraignment by filing a motion to quash the charges.

But Arroyo, who is set to leave for the United States in June for a vacation and a visit to the Filipino community, ruled out his lawyer’s request and advised him not to block the arraignment.

The arraignment of Arroyo was first set on February 29. The court has scheduled a preliminary investigation on May 16.

Arroyo, which represents the interest of security guards and tricycle drivers in the party-list group, was charged by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) three counts of tax evasion. His wife, Angela, was charged with seven counts for failure to file income tax returns from 2003 to 2009.

The BIR has placed the Arroyos’ estimated tax liability at P74 million. The couple posted a P200,000 bail bond for their temporary liberty.