Public accountant who “certified” Rappler financial statements also a no-show
By Moira Encina
Eagle News Service
Rappler Chief Executive Officer Maria Ressa and treasurer James Bitanga were no-shows in the Department of Justice hearing on the P133-million tax evasion case filed against Rappler Holdings Corporation by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, on Tuesday, April 19.
Public accountant Noel Baladiang of R.G. Manabat and Company was also a no-show in the hearing that marked the start of the preliminary investigation into the case.
The hearing was instead attended by the respondents’ lawyers, who asked for additional time for their clients to submit their counter-affidavits.
The lawyers had argued they have not received a copy of the tax evasion complaint.
State Prosecutor Zenamar Machacon-Caparro set the next deadline for the submission of the counter-affidavits to May 7, also the date of the next hearing.
Ressa will reportedly attend that hearing.
The tax evasion complaint was in connection with RHC’s alleged “willful attempt to evade or defeat tax” and its alleged “deliberate failure to supply correct and accurate information in its annual income tax return and value added tax returns for taxable year 2015.”
The BIR said RHC’s income tax liabilities amount to P91,320, 481.08, and its value added tax liabilities to P42,520,824.67.
The BIR came to the conclusion after ruling RHC did sell Philippine Depositary Receipts to foreign entities Omidyar Network and NBN Rappler LP.
According to the BIR, as “dealer in securities,” RHC should have paid income tax and value added tax.
“However, the annual ITR and VAT returns for taxable year 2015 filed by RHC with the BIR showed that no IT and VAT have been paid by RHC for the income it gained in the PDR transactions,” the BIR said.
The BIR also charged Baladiang for “signing and certifying the financial statements of RHC despite the clear omission and misstatement of his client’s actual taxable income.”
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