Mikey Arroyo, wife post bail on P73.85-M tax evasion raps

QUEZON CITY – Ang Galing Pinoy party-list Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo and his wife Angela on Tuesday posted bail for the P73.85-million tax evasion case filed against them. The Arroyo couple earlier denied the allegation of tax evasion saying that they have complied with all the regulations and issuances by the Department of Finance (DOF) and the BIR.

Atty. Ruy Rondain, the legal counsel of the Arroyo couple, said that he posted P200,000 or P20,000 per case before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC).

Rondain said that they posted bail even before the issuance of a warrant of arrest to show that they have no intention of leaving the country to escape the charges.

“They voluntarily surrendered to show that they will face the case filed against them,” Rondain said.

Early this month, the Department of Justice (DOJ) found probable cause to file tax evasion case against Mikey and his wife Angela.

A total of 10 cases have been filed before the Quezon City RTC against the Arroyos while another three tax evasion cases were filed before the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA).

Rep. Arroyo was charged with three counts of failure to file Income Tax Returns (ITRs) and three counts of failure to supply correct and accurate information on his ITR while his wife will face seven counts of failure to file ITRs.

The BIR filed the tax evasion case against Arroyo and his wife for violating several provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) of 1997, making their tax liability to at least P73.85 million, inclusive of surcharges and interest.

In its complaint, the BIR said that the lawmaker and his wife Ma. Angela bought several real and personal properties from 2004 to 2009 but failed to file any ITR and to pay the corresponding taxes due to the government.

These properties include residential houses in the United States of America, Lubao, Pampanga and La Vista Subdivision in Quezon City; motor vehicles; shares of stocks; jewelries, clothes and other personal effects mentioned in Arroyo’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) for the years 2002 to 2009.