MANILA, Philippines–The Court of Tax Appeals has granted the request of film director Carlo J. Caparas to reset his arraignment on four counts of tax evasion.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Caparas through his counsel sought the deferment of the arraignment citing judicial courtesy because they filed a petition before the Supreme Court against two orders of the Tax Court.
The Tax Court’s Third Division questioned why they were not given a copy of the petition.
Caparas’ camp said it was sent through mail.
“Why not served personally at the court? You did not consider it important?” Associate Justice Esperanza Fabon-Victorino asked.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) through Assistant State Prosecutor Juan Pedro Navera said it has received the notice of arraignment last January.
“They have ample time to file this putative petition. But why only two days ago?”Navera asked.
The Tax Court, however, granted the one-month deferment of the arraignment citing the commitment of Caparas’ camp to push through with the proceedings after a month.
Arraignment is reset on March 26.
Caparas is facing a case for violating the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) for failing to file Value-Added Tax (VAT) Returns for the years 2006 to 2009 resulting in deficiency taxes of P101,819,722.19.
Caparas was investigated by the BIR when a television news report about two television shows funded by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) and produced by Caparas caught the attention of the BIR.
The two shows entitled “Ang Pangarap Kong Jackpot” and “Kroko” were apparently part of the P1.3-billion contracts entered into by PCSO and Caparas, for which he received a total of P850.95 million from the years 2006 to 2009.
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