Wealthy couple slapped with tax evasion

A couple from Binondo, Manila was charged yesterday with tax evasion by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Department of Finance (DOF) for failing to pay income taxes totaling to P12.4 million between 2000 and 2003.

Internal Revenue Commissioner Guillermo Parayno said Antonio Villan Manly and Ruby Ong only paid a total of P187,155 in taxes during that period, grossly understating their income while acquiring "luxurious properties."

Parayno said Manly, executive vice president of the family-owned Standard Realty Corp., earns compensation apart from engaging in the rental business.

A summary of Manly’s income from 1998 to 2003 showed that he had a "disposable income totaling to P1.7 million," he added.

Parayno said on July 31, 2000, the Manlys paid P17,511,010 in cash to buy a log cabin in Tagaytay City from the Belle Corp. — Jose Rodel Clapano, Des Ferriols