BIR files tax evasion raps vs wife of Kapa founder

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed tax evasion charges against the wife of the founder of a religious group accused by no less than President Duterte of running an investment scam.

Sued before the Department of Justice (DOJ)  on Thursday was Reyna Lobitaña Apolinario — wife of Kapa Community Ministry International founder Joel Apolinario — for failing to declare P307.7 million in earnings in 2017 and failing to pay income taxes on them.

The charges follow revelations last month by corporate regulators that the assets of the Mindanao-based religious pastor were all lodged under the name of his wife.

“In the course of the investigation, it was found that Reyna had not filed her income tax returns for taxable years 2012 to 2015, but filed an income tax return for taxable year 2016 declaring income of only P206,578,” the BIR said, adding that she also declared income of P171,100 and P12.6 million for 2017 and 2018, respectively.

However, in 2018, Reyna’s declared beginning capital in her audited financial statements ballooned to P306.9 million.

“Considering the previous income declarations and payments of Reyna, this points to undeclared sources of income amounting to P307.7 million for the taxable year 2017, which includes cash (P140 million), luxury vehicles (P27.6 million), heavy equipment (P65.7 million), real properties (P45.1 million), and other assets and investments,” the tax bureau said.

In addition, a list provided by the Land Transportation Office to investigators showed that nine vehicles were registered under Reyna’s name in 2017 and 2018, which were not declared in the financial statements she submitted to the BIR.

BIR records also revealed that she had 13 businesses registered under her name consisting of construction materials, garments and metals retailing; gasoline stations and convenience stores; computer and printing services; a quarry; a convention center; a fishing boat; a bake ship and refreshments business; a media and marketing network; and a hotel.

Reyna is a businesswoman currently registered with Revenue District Office No. 110, with a registered address at Arenas Building, Pioneer Avenue, Dadiangas West, General Santos City. She is also the corporate secretary of Kapa.

As a result of her acts and omissions, Reyna was sued for an estimated income tax liability amounting to P168.2 million, inclusive of surcharges and interests, broken down into P163.9 million for 2017 and P4.3 million in 2018, the BIR said.

The case against Reyna is the 497th filed under the Run After Tax Evaders program of the BIR under Commissioner Caesar Dulay. —DAXIM L. LUCAS