Veteran journalist and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa said on Monday that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) violated their rights to due process when it filed a more than P100-million tax complaint against the online news website allegedly without conducting any investigation. This is another instance where you have a case of political harassment because we’re journalists trying to do our jobs. I appeal again to the BIR, their job is to investigate before filing charges,” Ressa told reporters after the preliminary investigation conducted at the Department of Justice (DOJ). According to the BIR, an investigation showed that RHC purchased common shares from Rappler Inc. worth P19, 245,975.00. He maintained that there was no tax evasion and no intent to avoid payment of taxes.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer May 07, 2018 05:37 UTC