Napoles cleared in tax chargesConvicted plunderer

Janet Lim Napoles has been acquitted of tax-related charges after the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) ruled that the prosecution failed to prove their charges. In an 84-page decision on March 21, the CTA’s Second Division dismissed all the tax-related cases of Napoles after state prosecutors failed to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Napoles faced 12 counts of multiple violations of the National Internal Revenue Code, particularly Articles 254 and 255, or committing tax evasion and untruthful declaration of tax liabilities, respectively. The government accused Napoles of failing to pay her taxes in years 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012, amounting to an overall P44.7 million worth of tax liabilities. The prosecution said that Napoles declared zero reported net income in years 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, while alleging that she “amassed” real properties, insurance investment policies and had infused capital in different corporations. These properties include various condominium units, parking slots, parcels of land in Bayambang, Pangasinan, and in Kidapawan City, insurance policies from various insurance companies, two vehicles and investments to different foundations. —DEMPSEY REYES