The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed criminal charges against Hilmarc’s Construction Corporation, one of the country’s top government contractors to curtail the rampant use of ghost receipts.
In a statement on Thursday, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla noted the State expects the ‘highest quality of diligence in following tax laws’ from government contractors.
“Ghost receipts should have no place in the commerce of man as it hinders our growth and prosperity as a nation, may this filing of cases be a warning to those who continue to defraud the State of its due. More importantly, this is also a perfect opportunity to emphasize that government contractors are not in any way exempt from faithfully complying with their tax obligations,” he said.
It stemmed from the complaint of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) which has intensified its efforts to eradicate fictitious and anomalous transactions using ghost/fake receipts.
After careful review of the pieces of evidence, the DOJ found prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction to charge the construction giant and its corporate officers Efren M. Canlas, Robert B. Henson, and Cristina Elisse F. Canlas for violation of Sections 254 (Attempt to Evade or Defeat Tax) and 255 (Failure to Supply Correct and Accurate Information) in relation to Sections 253(d) and 256 of the Tax Code.
Hilmarc will also be facing civil liabilities amounting to Php 176,363,284.77 for basic tax liabilities.