Philippine oil firm accused of tax evasion

Philippine customs filed a criminal complaint against an oil company for non-payment of 4.1 billion pesos (Dh354 million) in taxes for imported goods, a local paper said. Complaints were filed against Jetti Petroleum president Joselito Tibayan Magalona, broker and attorney in fact Darwin Suico and broker Dario Amolata at the Justice Department for their company's failure to pay taxes for oil imports for 12 months since June 2010, outgoing Bureau of Customs (BoC) chief Angelito Alvarez told the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Investigations are ongoing to find out if the same oil company has not paid taxes through its modus operandi with corrupt customs officials, said Alvarez. It was the sixth criminal complaint filed against oil companies suspected of illegal imports in the Philippines, said Alvarez. In 15 months, similar criminal complaints were filed against Pilipinas Shell, Phoenix Petroleum, Cross Country Oil, Oil Link and Filpride Resources. They are the country's top 11 oil importers, said Alvarez. Earlier, President Benigno Aquino said he was not satisfied with the job done by Alvarez. Aquino ran on an anti-corruption campaign during the May 10 elections last year.