Maharlikan Times

Purisima orders NFA, DPWH to submit list of traders, contractors

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MANILA, July 29 (PNA)-- While Malacanang has assured an investigation into the over importation of rice made by the National Food Authority (NFA) during the past administration, even the traders and contractors will also be investigated.

President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III revealed in his first State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) last Monday that millions pesos worth of rice were imported by the NFA during the past administration that ended up rotting in the warehouse of NFA.

Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Cesar Purisima on Thursday said that he has ordered the NFA and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), respectively, to submit a financial listing of the traders involved in the over importation of rice and a list of contractors, respectively.

Purisima made the statement himself in a joint press conference Thursday at the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Purisima said that he has ordered NFA Administrator Lito Banayo to submit a financial listing of traders involved in the over importation of rice so that their income tax returns will be assessed if they paid proper taxes due the government.

The contractors will also be reviewed by DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson in order to determine whether they are paying taxes due the government.

Singson earlier cancelled 19 flood control projects worth P934 million for alleged anomalous transactions during the past administration.

For her part, DOJ Secretary Leila De Lima said that after the submission of the list of the DPWH and the NFA, the DOJ and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will then come in for the conduct of the investigation.

During the investigation, De Lima said, tax evaders will be determined, as well as lifestyle check will be done against the NFA rice importers and DPWH contractors to check whether or not they pay proper taxes.

De Lima said that the intensified drive against tax evaders is a prime "marching order" of President Aquino.

De Lima also said that she has received a formal letter from Singson seeking assistance for the investigation into the anomalous 19 flood control projects worth P934 million.

If found that the rice traders and contractors are not paying the right taxes, the DOJ will file criminal charges against them for violation of Section 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.

Likewise, De Lima said that she has issued a memorandum circular directing the prosecutors to strictly monitor the preliminary investigation of cases earlier filed before the DOJ against tax evaders and the designation of a prosecutor for each case in order to focus on the case and the immediate filing of appropriate charges in court.(PNA)