Phillipine DoJ Warns Taxpayers Not To Join In Tax Revolt

by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong

23 June 2009

Taxpayers in the Philippines will face legal action if they participate in the tax revolt lodged by Senator Panfilo Lacson, the country's Department of Justice (DoJ) has warned.

Lacson called for the tax revolt on June 16, urging the country's businessmen and citizens to withhold their tax payments until Charter change proponents had abandoned their plans and the current President, Gloria Arroyo, had stepped down from office in 2010.

The crux of the protest revolves around allegations that the Arroyo administration has used taxpayers' money to cheat in two previous elections.

Calling for support on the issue, Lacson announced:

“Aside from being a protest move, this would ensure that our taxes will be safe from the propensity of officials of this administration to perpetuate themselves to power by dipping their hands into government coffers.”

Lacson has the backing of high-ranking members of the country's Catholic Church.

However, the DoJ has stepped in to try and prevent further action being taken by warning that anyone thinking of participating will not only face a penalty charge for late payments, but also legal action.

The DoJ's Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera explained:

"It’s up to them. If they won’t pay taxes on time, they have to pay an interest, they have to pay penalty, and they face criminal charges for violating the Internal Revenue Law."

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