The Alliance for Consumer and Protection of Environment Inc. asked the Bureau of Internal Revenue to investigate the alleged tax deficiency of companies owned by Davao City-based businessman Dennis Uy.
Acape, in a letter to BIR dated Oct. 16, asked the revenue body “to probe the alleged tax deficiency of businessman Dennis Uy from his oil and other businesses.”
“As BIR’s mandate to collect taxes, Acape believes that the bureau has the responsibility to look into uncollected tax deficiencies of every taxpayer, particularly high-profile businessmen,” it said.
Acape said Uy’s oil business, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc., allegedly incurred a tax liability amounting to P3 billion.
Sought for comment, Phoenix vice president for external affairs Raymond Zorrilla said the company was following all the legal processes and that Uy’s transactions were above board.
“Since we have not received a copy of the alleged letter, we are not in a position to comment as we have no information was to what allegations are contained in said letter,” Zorilla said.
“Besides, it may also be premature as we do not know whether the BIR will act on the letter or not. What we can assure everyone is all our transactions as well as that of Mr. Dennis Uy are all above board and legal,” he said.
Zorilla said Phoenix was following all the legal processes and mandates of all government agencies.
“Nevertheless we are surely wanting in any idea why such issues suddenly arise simply because of the emergence of the business dealings of Mr. Dennis Uy and his companies,” he said.
Acape wanted the BIR to look into Phoenix’s tax payments. “In line with these, Acape would like to request from your good office to conduct an investigation on this matter, particularly on the tax liability of the company and businessman himself Dennis Uy,” the group said. Darwin G. Amojelar
The group earlier asked the Bureau of Customs to reinvestigate the alleged anomalous P6-billion smuggling activities of Phoenix that was filed by the agency in 2011 but was dismissed by the Court of Appeals in 2014.