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The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed simultaneously before the prosecutors’ offices nationwide tax evasion charges involving P6.1 billion against 214 corporate officers and 127 companies.

BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. led the filing of cases before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday, Aug. 3.

Lumagui said those corporate officers and firms charged are involved in manufacturing, retail, importations, and construction.

The names of the corporate officers and their companies were not immediately available.

However, lawyer Greghvon A. Matol of the BIR’s prosecution division said that “the list of respondents is still considered confidential due to the presumption of innocence until the cases have been filed in courts.”

“Ang sinampahan natin ng kaso ngayon ay 127 na kumpanya na hindi nagbabayad ng buwis. Ang liability na total ay nasa P6.1 billion (We filed cases against 127 companies that did not file taxes. The total tax liabilities of these companies amount to P6.1 billion),” Lumagui said.

“Halo-halo po ito at ‘yun nga po ang kahaharapin niyan ay parusang pagkakakulong ‘yan ang corporate officers. Bukod pa d’yan civil liability, mga tax liabilities na hindi nila binayaran (Various companies face complaints and their corporate officers face the possibility of imprisonment. This is apart from the civil liabilities, the tax liabilities that they failed to pay),” he said.