Contractor kinasuhan sa pekeng cigarette stamps

Nahaharap sa criminal complaint sa Department of Justice (DoJ) ang isang contractor matapos masamsaman ng sigarilyo na may pekeng internal revenue stamps na nagkakahalaga ng mahigit P12 milyon.

Naghain ng reklamo ang Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) sa DoJ laban kay Jeric Ursua Maninang, ng San Fernando, Pampanga at may construction business.

Sa nasabing reklamo, inakusahan si Maninang ng unlawful possession of articles subject to excise tax without payment of the tax; possessing false, counterfeit, restored or altered stamps; at unlawful pursuit of business na paglabag sa Sections 263, 265(c) at 258, ayon sa pagkakasunod, ng National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.

Sinabi ng BIR na inimpound ng Bacolor Municipal Police Station ang isang truck na may marking na “RPJ Dry Goods.”

Sa paglitaw ni Maninang sa pulisya at nagpakilalang may-ari ng truck, pinabuksan sa kanya ang container na nadiskubreng naglalaman ng kahon-kahong sigarilyo.

Naghinala sa mga nilalaman, nakipagtulungan ang pulisya sa BIR na i-validate ang authenticity ng stamps sa mga produkto ng sigarilyo.

“Based on the four-day validation activity conducted by the BIR, 100 percent of the total stamps tested on the cigarette packs in the truck were found to be fake and were confiscated,” ayon sa BIR.

Dahil dito, sinabi ng BIR na si Maninang “evaded payment of the correct excise tax amounting to a total deficiency excise tax of PhP12,447,000.00, inclusive of increments.

“Further, Respondent Maninang did not declare/register said business with the BIR. As a result, he failed to pay the required annual registration fee. He was also not given any authority to print receipts for his undertakings. As such, the receipts being used and issued by him in connection with the sale of cigarettes were considered unregistered receipts,” dagdag nito.