BIR issues garnishment order vs lechon owner

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)-Revenue Region No. 13 has issued warrants of garnishment to at least 10 banks against the accounts of Rico's Lechon chief executive officer and owner Enrico Dionson.

The 10 Manila banks include: Banco De Oro in Makati Avenue, Makati City; Bank of the Philippines Island in Makati Central Business District, Makati City; China Bank in Paseo de Roxas, Makati City; Land Bank of the Philippines in Malate Manila; Metro Bank in Metro Plaza Ser. Gil J. Puyat Avenue, Makati Avenue.

Others include Philippine National Bank along D. Macapagal Boulevard, Pasay City; Philippine Savings Bank at 777 Paseo de Roxas corner Sedeno Street, Makati City; Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation at 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City; United Coconut Planters Bank at 7907 Makati Avenue, Makati City; and Union Bank in Ortigas Center, Pasay City.

BIR Acting Regional Director Aynie Mandajoyan-Dizon signed the certification dated September 26.

With that, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña calls Dionson a tax evader for reportedly not paying his taxes.

“Just like Banco De Oro, just like SM Prime Holdings Incorporated, to me, they are all tax evaders and I am not scared. I am proving to the people that they are really tax evaders, BIR mismo is issuing garnishment against Dionson,” Osmeña said.

As far as what he heard, Dionson reportedly owes P48 million to BIR.

The FREEMAN tried to call Dionson to get his comment but to no avail, as of press time.

The issuance of warrants of garnishments allows the BIR to collect the money which Dionson owes them.

Garnishment is a legal procedure by which a creditor can collect what a debtor owes by reaching the debtor's property when it is in the hands of someone other than the debtor.

“He (Dionson) says I'm running against him because of politics, because of whatever…Well, this is BIR running against him because he is a possible tax evader who owes millions and millions to the BIR,” he told reporters yesterday.

“I don't think anyone from the BIR has something personal (against) him. As far as I am concerned, he is a tax evader,” Osmeña further said.

The mayor divulged he got the document from BIR as a response to his query whether or not Dionson has unpaid taxes.

To recall, the conflict between Osmeña and Dionson started after the city government shut down the two Rico's Lechon Restaurant located on Escario Street, Cebu City and in Barangay Mabolo. The city also closed on commissary situated in Hi-way 77 at Barangay Talamban for violating the omnibus tax ordinance of the city.

Aside from the noncompliance of business permits, Dionson reportedly failed to pay taxes before City Treasurer's Office.

In a separate interview, Dizon told The FREEMAN that they issued the warrants of garnishments on the month of August to the banks.

As per their rules, she can't divulge how much Dionson's unpaid taxes were.

“When the mayor has a query about it, we (asked our) national office if it is okay to give an information to the mayor about it. The national office said it's okay as long as it will not disclose how much Dionson has to pay to us,” she said via phone interview.

Dizon added she didn't even know why Osmeña knew that they are issuing warrants of garnishment to the banks where Dionson has been depositing.