‘This is an affirmative step which clearly conveys the government’s unwavering commitment to intensifying the prosecution of tax evasion cases under the Bagong Pilipinas governance, where a reasonable certainty of conviction exists.’
The Department of Justice (DoJ) has filed four criminal charges before the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC) Branch 33 against Ever Bilena Cosmetics, Inc. (Ever Bilena), a leading cosmetics company and its responsible corporate officers — president Dioceldo S. Sy and treasurer Miami S. Siytaoco — for tax evasion and failure to supply correct and accurate information in its tax returns.
The case, filed by the DoJ on 25 March, stemmed from the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) intensified Run After Fake Transaction (RAFT) Program, which targets the use of fake or fictitious receipts.
Based on the RAFT Task Force’s investigation, Ever Bilena used and claimed benefits from “ghost receipts” issued by Decarich Supertrade Inc., a “ghost company.”
The use of these ghost receipts resulted in Ever Bilena overstating its expenses by millions of pesos, thereby lowering its taxable income.
Consequently, the company failed to declare and pay the correct amount of tax due. On 1 February 2024, the BIR, under commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr., filed a criminal complaint against Ever Bilena with the DoJ.
“This is an affirmative step which clearly conveys the government’s unwavering commitment to intensifying the prosecution of tax evasion cases under the Bagong Pilipinas governance, where a reasonable certainty of conviction exists,” said DoJ Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.
“I thank Lumagui for the BIR’s relentless efforts in our continuous pursuit of justice, specifically in the realm of enforcing our tax laws,” he added.
The filing of the case is the result of the DoJ’s own investigation, which found sufficient evidence to warrant a conviction for tax evasion against Ever Bilena.
Ever Bilena will now have to defend itself before the Quezon City Court, as warrants of arrest are expected to be issued against the company and its responsible corporate officers.
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