On Thursday January 30, 2014, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares, said in an interview that they will investigate businessman Cedric Lee who was recently involved in mauling incident to comedian-actor Vhong Navarro on Forbeswood Condominium, Fort Bonifacio Taguig last January 22, 2014, after he claimed he own businesses involved in government procurement contracts and mining.
According to Kim Henares, one of Cedric Lee’s business partner Tyrone Ong, was charge by BIR for tax evasion last 2012 and added this investigation will give more reason to probe Lee.
Month of June 2012, the BIR charged Tyrone Ong, the president of Mandaluyong City-based Enviroaire, Inc. as he failed to pay his tax obligations in 2007 which cost around P184 million.
In regard with this, Tyrone Ong is still detained at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame, after he has been arrested by the Sandiganbayan last August 2013 on graft and malversion charges for the fictitious repair and maintenance of V-150 armored vehicles worth P385.48 million in 2007.
Statements of BIR Commissioner Kim Henares:
“Of course, it’s also interesting that in a lot of [Lee’s] businesses, he has, for his partners/colleagues a person we filed a tax evasion case against: Mr Tyrone Ong.’
“So it’s natural, it’s interesting for us to find out if he [Lee] pays the right taxes or not given the company he keeps. Naghukay ka, naghanap ka, may nakita ka. So dapat mong tignan talaga.”
“Parang mag-asawa, may nakita kang isang kiss mark, siyempre mag-iimbestiga ka.”
Meanwhile, the allege mastermind to Vhong Navarro’s case Deniece Cornejo, was reportedly owns an online shopping store, due to this matter, BIR will also investigate for tax compliance.
