Navotas tells Petron: Pay P10 M taxes

Perennial top earner Petron Corporation owes the Navotas government some P10 million in back taxes going back four years and Mayor Tobias Tiangco, peeved at the multinational’s alleged "defiance to pay up," is keen on getting what is due the local government.

The giant oil company could face closure of its bulk plant in the Navotas Fishport Complex if it fails to pay up next week.

Tiangco has sent a final warning to Petron to pay the delinquency of P10-million owned by its bulk plant since 1998. The plant supplies fuel to fishing vessels that deliver their catch at the fishport and other watercraft berthing at the port.

In a letter to Luis Maglaya, Petron legal counsel, the mayor’s office warned that if the back taxes are not paid by Monday, May 20, it will take legal action to have the plant closed.

"Petron is not exactly a financially distressed company. The small town of Navotas is only asking what is due it. As it is, the town needs money to finance its many socio-economic development projects. The P10-million, a mere drop in the bucket for the giant Petron and which should have been paid a long time ago, will go a long way in improving the well-being of our people," Tiangco said.

Records showed Petron owes the Navotas government P10,204,916.17 in unpaid business taxes. According to calculations made by the local government, the bulk plant grossed close to P5 billion in sales of its oil products from 1997 to 2001. – Jerry Botial