DOJ files tax raps vs Cedric Lee

MANILA, Philippines - A businessman accused in the serious illegal detention of television host Vhong Navarro has been charged with four counts of tax evasion, along with his wife and business partner, before the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA).

The Department of Justice (DOJ) filed the cases on Aug. 27, more than a month after a panel of investigators found probable cause to indict Cedric Lee, his wife Judy Gutierrez, and business partner John Ong.

The cases arose from a Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) complaint that Izumo Contractors Inc., in which Lee is president and chief executive officer, had earned P302.63 million between 2006 and 2009 and only declared a shared income of P76.22 million.

Izumo has incurred a tax liability amounting to P194.47 million, the BIR said.

In the serious illegal detention case, a Taguig court allowed Lee to post P500,000 bail.

He is also facing graft and corruption charges before the Sandiganbayan over an alleged anomalous contract between Izumo and the local government of Mariveles, Bataan.