Discayas face P7.1-B tax evasion charges

3 sets of cases filed by BIR before DOJ

- By JEFFREY DAMICOG, JOSEPH PEDRAJAS, JAMES LOYOLA, and MERLINA HERNANDO-MALIPOT

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Wednesday, Oct. 8, tax evasion charges against contractor spouses Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah “Sarah” Discaya for tax liabilities of over P7.1 billion for taxable years 2018 to 2021.

"We have filed cases against the Discaya spouses and the corporate officers of their corporations," said BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. who led the filing of the criminal complaints.

Lumagui said three sets of cases were filed against the Discaya spouses who were assessed a total tax liability of P7,182,172,532.25.

The first set of cases involved the Discaya couple's failure to pay their individual income taxes for taxable years 2018 to 2021.

The second set of cases involved their decision to divest from some of their corporations-St. Gerrard, St. Timothy, St. Matthew, and Alpha and Omega.

"When you divest from a corporation and sell stocks, you need to pay the corresponding taxes," Lumagui explained. "We found that they did not pay taxes on the transfer of the shares of stocks and that's why they are charged with failure to file documentary stamp tax and that is tax evasion." The third set of cases involved the failure of the Discayas and St. Gerrard to file excise tax returns and pay the excise taxes of nine luxury vehicles under their names, he also said.

The Discaya spouses have asked the DOJ that they be turned into state witnesses in the anomalous flood control projects.

But Lumagui said that even in the event that the Discayas become state witnesses and become immune from liability from the cases concerning the anomalies, they still have to pay all these taxes.

He also pointed out that even if the Discayas would pay the P7.1 billion tax liabilities, the criminal cases filed by the BIR will proceed.