Manila: The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has initiated legal proceedings against contractor couple Pacifico "Curlee" Discaya II and Cezarah Rowena "Sarah" Discaya, citing PHP7.18 billion in tax liabilities related to St. Gerrard Construction Gen. Contractor and Development Corporation.
According to Philippines News Agency, BIR Commissioner Romeao Lumagui Jr. announced that the charges encompass multiple tax violations, including unpaid individual income taxes, excise taxes on nine luxury vehicles, and documentary stamp taxes related to their divestment claims from four Discaya-owned construction firms. The BIR's investigations revealed that the Discayas failed to pay billions in income taxes from 2018 to 2021.
Lumagui emphasized that these charges represent only a fraction of potential tax liabilities, stating, "Once we have finished our audit of the Discaya-owned construction firms, we expect findings of billions of tax deficiencies. We will file more tax evasion cases as soon as we have all the information we need."
The BIR highlighted the couple's failure to file documentary stamp tax returns and pay the associated taxes for share transfers within their companies. Despite claiming divestment during legislative hearings on flood control projects, the BIR found no records of such tax returns or payments. Lumagui asserted, "The spouses Discaya never divested from St. Gerrard, St. Timothy, St. Matthew, and Alpha and Omega."
Additionally, the BIR discovered that the Discayas did not file excise tax returns or pay taxes on nine luxury vehicles registered under their names, based on Land Transportation Office records. Lumagui stated that the BIR will continue its audit of Discaya-owned firms and pursue further charges if additional unpaid taxes are identified. The BIR's efforts extend to other contractors and public officials involved in questionable flood control projects.
He added, "Curlee and Sarah Discaya are guilty of not paying their taxes. They failed to pay proper income taxes, excise taxes, even documentary stamp taxes. Expect more cases to be filed. The BIR will make sure that the spouses Discaya and their corporate officers will be imprisoned for violating our tax laws."
