Henares would be remiss in her duty, says Lacierda

Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares would be derelict in her duty if she fails to investigate whether or not former Chief Justice Renato Corona paid taxes on the assets he declared at the Senate impeachment trial, Malacañang said on Saturday.

Secretary Edwin Lacierda, President Aquino’s spokesperson, made the remarks after Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile called on the administration to stop pursuing tax charges against Corona.

“The problem is, if Mrs. Henares doesn’t act, she would be accused of dereliction of duty or it could be said that she has a set of laws for the rich and another for the poor,” Lacierda said over state-run radio dzRB. “It’s up to Kim Henares because she knows her duty.”

The Senate President has given clearance to release to the BIR the waiver that Corona signed on the confidentiality of his bank deposits.

Lacierda took his cue from President Aquino, who indicated on Friday that he did not relish seeing Corona go free from possible prosecution following his removal by impeachment last week.

Mr. Aquino said the laws for the common folk should be applied as well to those who wield influence.

“Someone told me… to just forget about it. If that would be so, we’d just return [to the old system],” the President told reporters when asked about lawmakers’ suggestions that the government should consider not pursuing further charges against Corona.

“Even Delsa Flores said that she was punished. What [she] committed was relatively small. Is it right to just forget about the bigger violation?” he said.