DOJ charges five Chinese nationals with tax evasion

The Department of Justice (DOJ) in the Philippines has filed a tax evasion case against five Chinese nationals. The case is worth P5.7 billion and relates to the sale of illegal cigarettes. The DOJ announced this on Tuesday, detailing that the suspects were linked to illicit cigarette sales discovered during police raids on November 6 and 7, 2024. These operations took place in multiple locations in Valenzuela and Bulacan. Evidence collected by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) led prosecutors in Valenzuela City to conclude that there was a strong case against these individuals. The BIR stated that the total tax owed by the accused amounts to approximately P5.76 billion, based on 21,000 cases of seized illegal cigarettes. The DOJ has also indicated that the case was presented to the Court of Tax Appeals on March 13. The charges include unlawful business practices and possession of goods subject to excise tax without payment. Arrest warrants for the five Chinese nationals are expected to be issued shortly.