THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said that it found probable cause to audit Vice-President (VP) Sara Duterte-Carpio, her husband Manases R. Carpio, and businesses linked to the couple, widening official scrutiny amid impeachment proceedings against the second-highest official.

In a statement late on Tuesday, the tax authority said that it ordered the issuance of Letters of Authority (LoA) to conduct tax audits on the subject taxpayers and examine their books of accounts and other accounting records.

“The end objective of this lawful exercise is to collect the correct taxes due to the government. This will be a rules-based approach in determining the truth. Rights will be accorded to the audited entities,” it said.

“This will be fully compliant with all Run After Tax Evaders protocols, the primary enforcement program of the bureau for tax evasion and tax fraud,” it added.

Ms. Duterte is facing impeachment complaints in the House of Representatives over alleged misuse of public funds, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and an alleged plot to assassinate President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

LoAs are a legal instrument of the BIR that allows it to initiate formal tax audits on any taxpayer.

“It is not a conclusion of liability, but it is a necessary step in determining the correct taxes due. Accountability begins with the consistent application of the law,” said BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza.

“Where there is a basis to investigate, the BIR will do so, and if evidence of tax violations exists, it is our duty to pursue the appropriate civil, administrative, or criminal remedies,” he added.

The BIR said that the order to issue the LoAs was based on third-party information, including information gathered from publicly available and official sources, as authorized under the National Internal Revenue Code.

It said that it also took into account the Office of the Ombudsman’s testimony regarding the statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth of Vice-President Duterte, as well as reports from the Anti-Money Laundering Council that were disclosed during impeachment proceedings.

The nine businesses subject to audit are Carpio Lawyers (formerly Carpio & Duterte Lawyers), Zelta Matiem Salon, City Hall King Chow Foods Corp., Davao Bounty Times Foods Corp., Madayaw Fisheries, Inc., Davao Emerging Taipans Corp., Amianan Shores, Inc., Cale88 Foods Corp., and Geometry Security and Investigation Agency, Inc. — Justine Irish D. Tabile

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