DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/10 March) — President Rodrigo Duterte is willing to drop the tax evasion case against Mighty Corporation president Alexander Wongchuking but he must pay the government P3 billion.
During the “Meeting with the Local Chief Executives in Mindanao” at the SMX Convention Center Davao, Duterte said this was double compared to the previous offer of P1.5 billion to settle the issue.
He said he would rather make the cigarette firm owner pay instead of sending him to jail for falsification charges over alleged fake stamps.
Duterte said he is planning to use the money to develop the hospitals in Basilan and Sulu in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Mary Johnston Hospital in Tondo in the national capital.
He assured that each medical facility will receive P1 billion for rehabilitation if Finance secretary Carlos Dominguez, Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon, and Internal Revenue Commission Caesar Dulay would approve his proposal.
“Ang batas kasi (Because under the law), the tax evasion cases or tax liability can be compromised. The law allows it to be settled… Doblado na lang sabi ng mga (Make them double, said the businessmen). You consider fake stamps as part of the process of evading the taxes,” he said.
But he said some businessmen complained that even the P3 billion would not be enough if the government were to factor in the interests but added it would be up to Dominguez and Faeldon how much the government would impose against Wongchuking as penalty.
In a statement issued on March 8, Mighty Corp. cried foul over the alleged bribe try to settle the fake stamps scandal.
On the bribery attempt allegedly perpetrated by Mighty Corporation, the company through its counsel Sigfrid Fortun categorically denied any occasion or participation by the company in the supposed incident. “Mighty has never taken part nor has it ever indulged in such activity especially with officers of the incumbent administration,” the statement read.