The Department of Justice dismissed the P89-million tax evasion case filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue against businessman Joseph Calata lack of probable cause and insufficient evidence.
DOJ assistant state prosecutor Jenny de Castro, with the recommendation by senior deputy state prosecutor Peter Ong, issued a resolution dismissing the three counts of charges filed by the BIR against Calata and Agri Phil Corp. for alleged violation of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.
“Wherefore, the undersigned respectfully recommends that this resolution be approved and the complaint filed by the BIR against respondents Agri Phil Corp. and Joseph Calata, for violation of Section 255 of the NIRC of 1997, as amended be dismissed for lack of probable cause and due to insufficiency of evidence,” the four-page resolution dated Feb. 27, 2023 stated.
DOJ prosecutor general Benedicto Malcontento approved the resolution of the case docketed as NPS No. XVI-INV-22J-00411.
The BIR on Oct. 28, 2022 charged Calata and Agri Phil Corp., a company registered with Revenue District Office No. 25A – West Bulacan, for a total tax liability of P88.86 million, inclusive of increments, for taxable year 2012.