Palace counts on Tulfos’ ‘word of honor’ for return of P60M
MALACAÑANG ON Thursday said it is banking on Bienvenido “Ben” T. Tulfo of media company Bitag Media and his brother, broadcaster Erwin T. Tulfo of PTV-4, to return to the government the P60 million earned for ad placements by the Department of Tourism (DoT). “It is up to the Tulfos if they will voluntarily return the money. So, we’re counting on their word of honor,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry L. Roque, Jr. said in a press briefing at the Palace on Thursday morning. He added that Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has “already declared” that her office is currently looking into the case. The ads were placed by the DoT when it was still headed by the Tulfos’ sister, Wanda Tulfo-Teo. — Arjay L. Balinbin
8 firms face tax evasion charges
THE BUREAU of Internal Revenue (BIR) announced on Thursday that it filed before the Department of Justice separate tax evasion complaints against eight companies and their respective officials. Among the respondents were Rizal-based textiles manufacturer and importer Yarntech Manufacturing Corporation, which has an alleged tax deficiency of more than P361.4 million for 2012. Also charged were Pasig City-based construction firm Daeah Phils. Inc., with a tax liability of almost P176 million, and textile trader Moderntex Inc. for P6.07 million. Others in the list were: Quezon City-based companies Job 1 Global Inc. (P8.4 million) and Stoneglobal Philippines Inc. (P5.8 million); Cavite-based Chopil Manpower Services Corporation (P8.25 million), Marksteel Construction Corporation (P19.2 million), and GP Synergia Technologies Corp. (P4.7 million). The respondents were sought for comment but some did not respond to calls while others did not have publicly-listed contact numbers. — Dane Angelo M. Enerio
