Napoles, husband file counter-affidavit in tax evasion raps

MANILA, Philippines – More than two months after the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) filed tax evasion charges against alleged pork barrel scam Janet Lim Napoles and husband Jaime Napoles, the couple submitted their counter-affidavit on Tuesday, December 10.

The Napoles couple filed a 12-page counter-affidavit before the justice department on their alleged liabilities that total for a P61-million case, according to an ABS-CBN report.

The BIR has said that Janet Napoles’ liability stands at P44.68 million, while Jaime’s liability is at P16.43 million. The tax collection agency has until December 17 to submit a reply to the Napoles’ counter-affidavit.

BIR Commissioner Kim Henares earlier said the couple failed to file the proper income taxes, based on the properties and investments under their names.

The properties include ones in City and Land Mega Plaza, Discovery Center, parcels of land in Pangasinan and Kidapawan City; insurance policies with Insular Life Assurance Co Ltd, Phil-American Life and General insurance Co, and Phil AXA Life Insurance Corp; and vehicles such as the Ford Lincoln Navigator, Honda Civic, and Porsche Cayenne.

Henares said Janet Napoles did not file her Income Tax Return (ITR) for 2010, 2011, and 2012. She only declared an annual income of P195,800 for 2004. In 2006 and 2009, she did not declare any income. Her husband Jaime did not file his ITR in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2012. In 2009, he declared no income in his ITR.

A Rappler report based on the financial filings of the Napoleses’ registered business, they earn less than P1 million a year.

Janet Napoles is currently detained at the Fort Sto Domingo in Laguna for serious illegal detention charges. She filed for bail late this year, but this was denied by a Makati court.

Napoles daughter

Meanwhile, the Napoles’ daughter Jeane has until December 17 to file her own counter-affidavit. Jeane faces tax evasion charges for failing to pay taxes worth P32 million.

Her tax liabilities were based on her failure to file ITR for 2011-2012, which should have reflected incomes that would afford her two properties discovered to be under her name. These are the P54.73-million property in Los Angeles, California, and a P1.49-million farm lot in Bayambang, Pangasinan. Jeane did not declare these as gifts either.

According to ABS-CBN, the younger Napoles has yet to get a lawyer to represent her in the tax evasion case.

The Napoles’ wealth first came into the public arena after netizens discovered Jeane’s posts on social media detailing her lavish lifestyle – attending parties with Hollywood celebrities, trips to foreign countries, and a posh apartment in Los Angeles, California. – Bea Cupin/Rappler.com