DOJ JUNKS RAPPLER PLEA

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Rappler Holdings Corp. (RHC) and its president, Maria Ressa, to throw away five tax evasion cases filed by the government.

In a four-page resolution released last Wednesday, DOJ prosecutor Zenamar Machacon-Caparros said there was “no sustainable ground” to reverse, set aside or modify the indictment.

“We are, however, standing by our conviction that in so far as the subject securities and the related transactional activities are concerned, movant RHC is deemed to have dealer status within the contemplation of the Tax Code,” the resolution added.

The cases, based on the complaint of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, accused RHC, claimed that the company and Ressa failed to pay taxes and file returns when they issued Philippine Depository Receipts to their foreign investors.