Napoles’ daughter now in BI’s lookout bulletin

MANILA, Philippines - The daughter of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, Jeane Catherine, is now included in the Bureau of Immigration’s lookout bulletin (LOB).

In a statement, BI spokesperson Elaine Tan said that the younger Napoles has been included in its LOB after Justice Secretary Leila de Lima issued an immigration LOB against her in connection with her P17.88-million tax evasion case.

“The lookout bulletin only serves as a directive to immigration officers to coordinate with the concerned agencies (Department of Justice, National Bureau of Investigation, National Prosecution Service) to verify the status of the case against a subject/passenger. The decision on whether to allow or deny travel of the passenger shall be based on the recommendation of the appropriate agency,” explained Tan.

Based on travel records of the BI, Jeane is currently in the country.

“She was allowed entry because there was no legal basis to prevent her entry into the country,” Tan said.

Arrest warrant

The camp of the younger Napoles is asking the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) to defer the issuance of an arrest warrant against her.

Her lawyers on Wednesday filed a motion for determination of probable cause with urgent motion to defer issuance of an arrest warrant before the CTA first and third divisions.

The two divisions – headed by CTA Presiding Justice Roman del Rosario and Associate Justice Lovell Bautista, respectively – are handling separate charges of tax evasion against her.

Both divisions have yet to act on the motions.

The charges allege that the younger Napoles violated Sections 254 and 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code.

The cases were filed before the tax court by the DOJ on Tuesday – more than six months since a panel of prosecutors found probable cause to file charges against the younger Napoles for allegedly attempting to evade taxes and for supposed failure to file income tax returns for the years 2011 and 2012.

“As gathered from the evidence submitted, respondent Jeane Catherine L. Napoles was able to acquire properties of expensive value directly under her name, but she kept mum about it and did not report any income despite her being able to buy and fully pay the said properties as borne out by documents,” senior assistant prosecutor Edna Valenzuela said.

Valenzuela also dismissed the respondent’s arguments that the properties registered under her name were actually bought and paid for by her parents, and that she merely held them in trust.

“Aside from being biased, (it) is wanting with clear and convincing evidence to show that spouses Jaime and Janet Napoles are the real buyers and true owners of the properties in question, and that respondent, Jeane Catherine L. Napoles, is merely a trustee,” read the DOJ resolution.

“Respondent’s claim without documentary evidence being submitted to substantiate her assertions, remains empty or hollow,” it added.

The cases stemmed from a complaint filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in October 2013.

The DOJ said the BIR was able to present evidence to back up their allegations that the younger Napoles evaded payment of taxes on her various acquisitions, which include a condominium unit in California and farm lots in Pangasinan.

The BIR said the condominium unit in Los Angeles, California was acquired for $1,280,000 (P54.73 million) in July 2011 and the two farm lots in Pangasinan were purchased in January 2012 for P1,493,333.33.

It assessed the tax liabilities of the younger Napoles at P17,461,038.40 for the condominium and P426,866.67 for the farm lots – a total of P17.88 million. – With Janvic Mateo