Be careful of what you post on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. The taxman, or in this case, the tax woman may be watching and just might use this as a basis for looking into your financial records to see if you’ve been holding back on tax payments.
According to a news report from ABS-CBN News, the Bureau of Internal Revenue is investigating Janet Lim Napoles after they apparently got hold pictures of Lim-Napoles’ daughter wearing designer clothes, jewelry, and shoes on Instagram.
The basis for the investigation, apparently, were pictures posted by Berteni “Toto” Causing on his blog and these were later picked up by Rappler as well as other websites.
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ABS-CBN News claims that a fashion designer/model friend of Janet Lim Napoles had sent them the pictures. (The thing is I recall that a certain Eddie Badeo, supposedly a fashion designer and transgender model, had come out to confirm allegations made by his friend Benhur Luy regarding the supposed P10 Billion Pork Barrel Scam. Could this be the same person who gave ABS-CBN the pictures?)
It is claimed that Jeane Napoles, the daughter of Janet Lim-Napoles, deleted her Instagram account perhaps in an effort to make the pictures it contained private. But apparently, someone managed to get hold of the pictures before the account was taken down.
Anyway according to the report on ABS-CBN BIR chief Kim Henares said she has also received photos and information on the Napoles family. The Tax Woman said her bureau is now looking into the family’s properties.
She pointed out that there is nothing wrong in flaunting one’s wealth as long as the person pays the right taxes. She said tax evasion charges will be filed against Napoles if there is evidence to support the allegation.
“Sabi niyo mayaman kayo, kailangang ma establish kung ano yung asset. Check natin kung nagbayad ng tamang buwis. Kung talagang mayaman at nagbayad, walang problema. May problema lang kung hindi nagtutugma yung dalawa,” Henares said. (Translation: You said that you are rich, but we have to establish what your assets are. Let’s check if you’ve paid the right taxes. If you’re really rich and you’ve paid taxes, there ought to be no problem.)
Napoles, for her part said that the designer and luxury items worn by her daughter in the picture were bought using money she earned from her businesses.
“Wala po na nanggaling sa gobyerno, ni piso. Lahat pong yan ay hanapbuhay namin galing sa aming pinaghirapan,” she said. “Kaming mag-asawa ay nagpapakamatay na maghanapbuhay para maibigay po namin sa aming mga anak. (Translation: “Not a single peso came from the government. All of that you see in the pictures came from hardwork. My husband and I work very hard to provide well for our children.”
Recalling impeachment case of Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona and how various properties were trotted out as a manner of proving that Corona had amassed “unexplained wealth”, I’m given to thinking that the same thing is being done here to Napoles — except for the fact that all this is being played out in the “Court of Public Opinion”, a dubious court to say the least.
Thinking about it some more, and just to be fair here, neither Toto Causing nor the other journalists who filed the report showing Jeanne Napoles’ luxury goods have provided evidence that the goods were purchased using money acquired through illegal means.
And, what’s more, why at all subject the daughter to what seems to be online harassment? Is there any proof at all that Jeanne Napoles was involved in the Pork Barrel Scam enough to subject her to what is clearly a vilification campaign?
As I’ve said in the comment section of previous blog posts, perhaps these matters would be best tackled in court — the Sandiganbayan perhaps?
—
Anyway, on another rather well publicized “tax evasion” allegation that happened in January this year…
Apparently, an e-mail went the rounds claiming that the BIR would give a reward of P150 Million for anyone who would provide information on the alleged tax evasion being perpetrated by Silka Papaya — a popular skin whitening soap.
Dax Lucas, on Bizz Buzz came up with the story:
Not a few people were surprised when word appeared on social media that the Bureau of Internal Revenue has offered a P150-million reward for anyone who could provide “prima facie evidence” that supports what appears to be the agency’s ongoing probe of Cosmetique Asia Silka Papaya (yes, the firm that makes that whitening soap product).
Such news item was even carried by TV5’s news website Interaksyon.com based on a press statement that was e-mailed to some reporters, ostensibly by a BIR official, Tuesday morning.
In the statement, the BIR supposedly offered the reward—equivalent to 10 percent of the alleged P1.5 billion in taxes that the firm owes the government—to anyone who could give the agency positive leads to help its investigation.
Well and good, right?Well, as it turned out, the BIR did not release any such statement, with no less than Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares denying that such a press release was sent out.
A cursory glance at the e-mailed press statement showed that it was indeed of a dubious source. It was purportedly issued by a certain “Tess Idio,” who is the officer in charge of the BIR’s “incentives division.” But the e-mail address it emanated from was a Gmail account instead of the official @bir.gov.ph format.
More importantly, the link to the reference material cited in the e-mail leads to an anonymously written blog, which has been carrying, for some time now, several anti-Silka Papaya articles. (Someone clearly has an issue against the firm’s chief operating officer, calling him a “tax evader” and uploading a picture of him on a pricey Ducati from his Facebook account.)
Henares herself had to issue a statement Tuesday afternoon to clarify that the BIR issued no such press release and that any probe it conducts is done in secrecy.
Tsk tsk. So much for that P150-million reward.—Daxim L. Lucas
The site referred to by Lucas contains financial data which would easily be confirmed through an investigation and yet the BIR, it seems, hasn’t gotten around to probing this.
Perhaps, while the BIR is at it, Henares might as well look into the Silka Papaya tax evasion brou-haha… After all, it’s supposed to be a P4.5 Billion case and surely isn’t peanuts at all.
Writer.
“Ostentation is the flag of hypocrisy” chapin
“And the outward sign of
wealth for a small number, the mask of poverty for the majority, and a source of corruption for all.”
poor little rich girl syndrome, where wealth or money is not respected since it has not been personally earnt, where style and class are sadly lacking, and where a life of superficiality ensues.
http://jeanenapoles.tumblr.com/ or titled across jeane’s universe, where each post starts with “The one with . . .” is still up. I may not have taken interest, had I not seen the blatant panderings. Heck if it was an Ayala, an Araneta, I couldn’t have cared less. But to be the daughter of someone being hounded for billions, now there’s something we all should be worried about. I don’t mind if people try to make themselves larger than life, but if it was from my hard earned money, I just got to know if these D&G’s and Chanels and LV’s came from. Not to mention the lavish accomodations and trips.
Let us support the fight against corruption by supporting the current administration with President Aquino and Secretary Abad.
Economy and more jobs are more important than ‘fighting’ corruption. If you think that corruption is just stealing money, then you’re an idiot.
You really have no idea the the SYSTEM is the problem and not necessarily the people around it. Actually, they should have been done sooner if the man you seem to have high regard for his responsibility has the guts and acumen to pull it off. Instead you turn to a GIRLY MAN (it’s true that you are actually GAY, deal with it. :P) and whine about putting away one corrupt politician and not realizing the full lengths of the corruption. But what do I expect from a ignorant Pinoy Pleb like you to know? 😀
I thought “economy and more jobs” are more important than “fighting corruption”…and waddup with the “gay thing”? You talk like a real idiot. Faggot or not…Pnoy is doing his job. Pnoy is not the first president of the Philippines so why put all the blame on him? I didn’t vote for him but I can see that he is doing his job. shame on you. you don’t know what you’re talking about.
Wow you really are an idiot.
Well, the BIT probe has started. I’m waiting to see how this pans out. Sacrifice Napoles or have Abigail Valte absolve her in a press statement?
I know it’s only supporting the main article, but I find the Silka guy’s money source more believable.
Considering the millions spent by Filipinos to look less Filipino, or anything BUT Filipino, that Ducati is probably chump change.
While the BIR lady has a point with her observation, here’s my bet: That ‘fashion statement’ was bought with dirty money.
Counterargument: Anyone who’s got the steel cojones to steal P10B must be clever enough to cover their tracks.
Also, why does the BIR have to ‘establish’ anything? Shouldn’t they have this information already? If I ran the BIR, and knowing that the *informed* voters of the country already vote for the least of all evils (ie, which candidate will steal the least), I would have a goddamn task force watching politicians like goddamn hawks.
Ten BILLION pesos. BILLION. That’s a lot of cheese.
jeane napoles tag/headline on her twitter/facebook account
” i couldn’t give a shit”
obviously someone from the gutter.
maybe she needs a wakeup call, or a hard slap.
drilon and belmonte have already said no to an inquiry into the pork scam!!, so napoles must have influential friends and any BIR probe will soon be forgotten/shelved.
corruption wins again.
So what? Mas magaling ka kaysa sa kanila? Kumandidato ka muna at manalo sa eleksyon.
so you are using that cheap attack again,TROLL?
Pathetic Can’t you even come up with something new? hmm? Nope?
You should go change your handle to “Laughing Stock” since that’s what you are here, A Laughing Stock”
TROLL HARDER
Kung ako sa iyo, hwag na lang. Because we can never move on if we still run a system where familial last names matter and celebrities/athletes who get popular and pitch money to the poor to make things better.
Catch my drift, troll? 😛
Saan pa ba makakakuha ng sweldo si bida kapamilya kundi sa inaabot ng mga alipores ng mga corrupt officials na yan mula sa kaban ng bayan?
Why not just roll down and die, you faggot! We taxpayers will be thankful if you just drop dead..
Dapat nang matakot ang mga corrupt dahil unti unti na sila nahuhuli.
At mananatili pa rin ang corruption under Noynoy and his KKKK.
Dapat matakot ka na rin dahil halatang UTO-UTO at IPOKRITO ka. Corruption is more than stealing money, you know. 😛
AbNoy and Drilon are corrupt. They just get away with it.
Agree. But let the government handle its job.
If the Philippine government were doing it’s job properly, the entire Aquino administration would have been removed from office and the president would have been impeached.
You are referring to the wrong people. The president and his team are responsible for the current betterment of our nation.
And yet corruption is spreading, poor people are increasing and prices are going high, not to mention the high crime rate.
For a malacanang stooge, you are exceptionally stupid.
Your president’s days are numbered, you better say your prayers.
Troll Harder
Amoeba brain, a.k.a bida kapamilya, and his single grey cell could not possibly appreciate the stupidity of his comments or the worthlessness of his contribution, other than for comedic value.
His only rationale for existence and tolerance is for psychological examination and physical experimentation, to answer how and why the yellow brain does not function, think, compute or process, and whether asexual recreation, procreation and reproduction is even possible for their leader amoeba boy pnoy
Your president said “no corruption = no poverty.” Therefore, according to your president, the greater number of poor in this administration means greater corruption because of BS Aquino. Your lies only emphasize the Aquinos’ corruption.
Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo after her first arrest lambasted PNoy Aquino in her essay “It’s the economy, stupid este student!”:
“Unfortunately, the present Administration has chosen to turn the problem upside down, anchoring their entire development strategy on one simplistic slogan: “Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap.” If there is no corruption, there is no poverty—this is a proposition that also tells us that the undeniable persistence of poverty to this day therefore means the continuation of corruption under this Administration.”
Since you’re EMO against GMA, please accept the fact that she has a point after all. Because it’s undeniably TRUE. 😀
These guys seems to treat the former President who governed the country for 10 years like a Saint. I don’t remember anything from her admin that dealt with corruption seriously. Well after all, she was directly involved in it.
And another thing, isn’t the article about the Pork Barrel scam? Why jump into a conclusion that the current President is “corrupt” (i know it’s nothing new, it is what I see in every article here from the same guys like they are being paid to post the same shit lmao)
Pardon me, but what blog have you been reading? Not to defend any one contributor writing for GRP, but the criticism here has been leveled at everyone that deserves it; it hasn’t been in favor of any one political faction or another. The president should expect a comparison with Gloria Arroyo and her administration. He was, after all, the one who first suggested it. His whole campaign — his whole administration — is built on the premise that he is better than former president Arroyo simply because he is honest and incorruptible. And that by applying his “agenda” the Philippines would become more progressive. Now it appears that Pnoy was not only deceitful about his “daang matuwid” agenda but that his administration is incompetent to boot. Should Filipinos now overlook the policy failures and shenanigans in the Aquino administration out of a fear that it might appear too biased? That is the epitome of cowardice! By the president’s own measure — “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap” — he has failed. There are 800,000 MORE Filipinos living below the poverty line since he took office. Does that not mean there is MORE corruption in government since he became president?
With all these things taking place in the Philippine Circus, I’m very curious what Miriam Defensor Santiago has to say especially regarding the Napoles issue.
I wish she never took the job for that International Trial Court. Losing her is like losing a good president we never had.
Some may be thinking, as I am, is that the attention on Napoles is an outrage fad. One wherein all attention is drawn to her, thus taking away attention to other officials who may be doing more. Certainly Napoles’ case should be investigated, but it could also be a decoy of sorts.
Errr, except Corona didn’t parade around in Porsches and Hublot watches. The condominiums that he purchased seemed to be legitimate investments.
after the letter napoles sent to aquino, spokesperson valte met with napoles lawyer yesterday!!!
malacanan are involved and are taking the piss
Janet Lim Napoles has strong ties before with the late Emilia Boncodin, DBM Secretary. Emilia is the one that keep Janet in the loop whenever a budget or SARO is approved and to which senator or congressman.
Gringo Honasan is a dear friend of Janet’s husband, Jimmy Napoles. I was surprised when I read somewhere online when Honasan was interviewed and he said that he doesnt know the Napoles family.
During the coup in Cory’s time, Jimmy napoles was driving a tank on the way to camp crame when he’s tank was hit by a mortar.Jimmy is operating the .50 caliber machine gun and the soldier driving the tank died during the blast. Jimmy survived and was jailed along with Honasan. If you can get clear photos of Jimmy Napoles online, you will see that part of his face and his arms show burn marks.
Their wealth started to build up during the late 90′s when they engaged themselves with mayors based in zamboanga to use them as a front for a Foundation that will implement projects or deliver farm materials. With connections at COA, they were able to arrange “completed projects” without delivering anything. They established JLN group of companies sometime in 2000 and they moved to their new office from AFPOVAI to Discovery Suites on the 25th floor.
Soon enough, they were able to develop deep connections with more legislators in congress and numerous senators. What JLN Group Of Companies do and their sub-companie, Jo-Chris Trading (named after their eldest child, Jo-Christine “Neneng” Napoles) – they use their foundations as the implementing agency for the funds of congressmen or senators. You see, congressmen and senators have budget, PDAF or the “pork barrel”, but these politicians do not have direct access to their funds and they can never touch it. So what they do is the politicians will create a project (common one is “fertilizer distribution” to farmers) and will ask DBM to set the budget. Then, there will be a public bidding to be held by DAR. The outcome of the bidding is already fixed and it’s Napoles foundation wins. The fund or SARO will be released through Janet’s foundation and the congressmen/senators will ask 70% of the whole amount. So if the project is 10M, Janet will give 70% of that. Usually Janet’s nephew, John Francisco Lim is the courier of the money, they will meet at Podium or at a parking lot. The money are stored in plastic bags or paper bags.
So, whatever is left from the budget, 30% goes to Janet. They usually cash-in the cheque they get from DBM at Landbank in Greenhills and the manager there is part of Janet’s payroll. Janet also need to pay the inspectors from COA and whoever is involved in DAR.
This is their workflow.This is what they do for more than a decade. This is how the senators and congressmen make money. This is why theses politicians have so much and working class filipinos almost have nothing. This is not only Janet’s fault. The greediness of the senators and congressmen are the driving point that keeps this system operating. It is also amazing that if Janet’s family and her company goes into trial, the people who will try them – judges, senators, congressmen, are also part of this. I fear for the life of Benhur and Merlina as whistleblowers. Soon enough they will die. The people of the philippines should protect them. NBI or the witness protection program cannot do anything about it. Because they are keeping the whistleblowers alive for their own use only. Once Janet give payments to the NBI and once Revilla, Honasan, Arroyo, Pichay, Ducut, Pineda, Lim, Estrada, Soto, Lapid, and almost all the congressmen who were in post for the past decade, step in – there’s nothing benhur or merlina can do. They are as good as dead by now.
Please post this on your social media and share it to the world. It is time to stop this madness and remove the pork barrel and protect benhur and merlina.
Wow ! Scary stuff ! So how to deal with these maggot Congressmen and Senators. Pool some donations, hire 1st class hit-men?
Someone needs to ‘off’ these bad eggs to send the message.
No other reasonable recourse.