The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed a criminal complaint before the Department of Justice against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, his wife Mylah Reyes Roque, and their associate Percival Sazon Ortega over alleged tax violations.
In a press release, the BIR said the complaint was lodged on April 27 in connection with Biancham Holdings and Trading, Inc.
The agency’s investigation found that the respondents allegedly failed to file required tax returns and pay taxes due on the transfer of shares of stock and an increase in authorized capital stock.
The total estimated tax deficiency has reached more than P3.35 million, inclusive of surcharges and interest.
Based on its findings, the BIR said there is probable cause to charge the respondents with willful attempt to evade taxes under Section 254 of the National Internal Revenue Code, as well as failure to file tax returns under Section 255.
Under the law, tax evasion carries penalties of fines ranging from P500,000 to P10 million and imprisonment of six to 10 years, while failure to file returns may also result in fines and jail time of up to 10 years.
Roque is also facing a human trafficking case over his alleged ties to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub.
He left the Philippines in September 2024 after being cited for contempt for refusing to attend Senate hearings on offshore gambling operations allegedly used as fronts for criminal activities. In November last year, he traveled to Vienna to process his asylum application.
Aside from the complaint against the Roques, the BIR also filed separate tax evasion cases against Terjonan Transport Company Inc. and its officers, Rhodora Andrada Zamora and Maria Teresa Emflorgo Sarmiento, over unpaid value-added tax amounting to more than P9 million for taxable year 2017.
Another individual, Niefel Mae Heria Demonteverde, also faces a complaint for delinquent tax liabilities worth over P8 million for taxable year 2019.
BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza said the filing of the complaints is part of the agency’s intensified campaign against tax evasion under its Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program.
