DOJ chief asks BIR to probe Jimenez on tax evasion

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez asked yesterday the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to investigate former Manila congressman Mark Jimenez for possible tax evasion.

Gonzalez also asked the Philippine National Police to explain why Jimenez has six police bodyguards and "a phalanx" of non-uniformed "heavily-armed" escorts.

In a letter to BIR Commissioner Mario Bunag dated Oct. 27, Gonzalez said the BIR should check whether Jimenez, Mario Crespo in real life, had paid the necessary taxes for the sale of family-owned Meridian Telephone to Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) in 2004 for $45 million or more than P2 billion. Meridian is the first local company to provide a high-speed broadband Internet service.

"I am interested in the information as to whether or not in this transaction, all taxes due to the government have been paid as well as the regularity of the transfer considering that as I understand, the signatory to the sale transaction was a certain Myla Crespo Jimenez. I will appreciate your prompt response on this matter," Gonzalez said.

In another letter, Gonzalez ordered PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon to explain why six policemen from the Eastern Police District are serving as Jimenez’s bodyguards,

"May I request information and explanation why Mr. Mark Jimenez/Mario Crespo is being escorted by six uniformed and heavily armed escorts from the Eastern Police District aside from a phalanx of non-uniformed bodyguards all heavily armed. This was the report of the reporters covering an incident where Mr. Jimenez was present," Gonzalez said.

"I am the Secretary of Justice and I have only two policemen security. My son, Congressman Raul Gonzalez Jr., does not even have police security and yet Mr. Jimenez has six policemen security," Gonzalez said.

"He must be a very important person to be given such protection. I will appreciate your prompt response on this matter," Gonzalez told the PNP chief.

Earlier, the justice secretary also asked the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLAC) to investigate the source of money of Jimenez.

Gonzalez said Jimenez, who returned to the country in December last year after serving a two-year sentence in a US prison for two counts of tax evasion and one count of conspiracy to defraud the US and commit election financing offenses, has been giving out millions of pesos to various groups, purportedly as donations.

He said AMLAC is legally empowered to investigate any person maintaining dubious bank accounts of at least P500,000.

"I am asking the AMLAC to investigate the source of the money of former congressman Mark Jimenez. If he is throwing P5 million to P10 million somewhere else, we should know the source of his money," he said.

Jimenez had earlier pledged P50 million to support distressed educational plan holders belonging to the Parents Enabling Parents (PEP).

Jimenez, who is reportedly planning to run for mayor of Manila next year, also donated P5 million to children of policemen, who are plan holders of Pacific Plans.

The word war between Gonzalez and Jimenez started after the latter assailed the DOJ chief for attacking Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban in connection with the latter’s admission of "pressures" from pro-Charter change officials.