Asi seeks review of tax charges

PBA star Asi Taulava will file a petition before the Justice department for a review of the tax evasion charges filed against him before a Makati Regional Trial Court last Tuesday.

The Talk n Text cager will also file a separate motion for a suspension of the court proceeding pending the resolution of his appeal with the DOJ, according to his counsel Eduardo Francisco.

In a four-page complaint, Taulava is accused of allegedly failing to register his income tax returns for covering two taxable periods on April 15, 2000 and on April 15, 2001.

State Prosecutor Maria Cristina Montera-Barot said the DOJ has found reasonable ground to file criminal charges against the PBA cager following the conduct of a preliminary investigation.

But Francisco said there has never been any "willful intention" on the part of Taulava to evade paying taxes. "On the contrary, there has been a continuing effort by Taulava to settle his tax liabilities with the Bureau of Internal Revenue," Francisco said.

"Taxes in the amount of P3.7 million had been properly deducted and credited to Taulava by Piltel and PLDT from 1999 to 2003. The corresponding withholding tax returns had also been filed with the BIR by the two companies," Francisco said.