PNP anti-cybercrime unit aids BIR hunt for big time tax evaders
The Anti-Cybercrime Group of the Philippine National Police has joined the fight against big-time tax evaders after its help was sought by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
ACG director Senior Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar said in a statement Tuesday that BIR Commissioner Kim Henares enlisted the unit’s help, citing its expertise, during talks with PNP Director General Ricardo Marquez.
On Monday, ACG personnel led by Superintendent Darwin Miranda assisted a BIR team serve a search warrant on couple Ruben and Erlinda Asedillo of No. 56 Nicanor Reyes St., Varsity Hills Subdivision in Quezon City.
Seized from the house were computers and five boxes containing various receipts and sales invoices.
“We have been asked by the BIR to conduct digital forensic examination on the pieces of digital evidence recovered during the raid, which was witnessed by the couple’s lawyer … Ramon Ampil and … barangay officials,” Eleazar said.
The results of their examination will be used in the filing of what Eleazar said would be a multi-million peso tax evasion case against the couple.
He said the operation against the Asedillo couple came after authorities learned they had installed an unregistered copy of the accounting program Peach Tree in the computer system of their jewelry business and reports they were allegedly involved in smuggling in jewels.
Eleazar noted that a receipt for P5 million that was seized in the raid did not have any BIR registration.
