DPA/Manila

Juan Miguel Arroyo
A son of former Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and his wife posted bail yesterday in connection with tax evasion cases filed by the Justice Department.
Congressman Juan Miguel Arroyo, 42, and his wife, Angela, posted bail of P200,000 pesos ($4,600) for the 10 counts filed last week against them before a tax appeal court.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue said the couple has a total tax liability of  P73.85mn for not paying the correct amount of taxes from 2003 to 2009 while Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was president.
  Ruy Rondain, the couple’s attorney, said his clients decided to post bail before their November 9 arraignment to dispel speculation that they planned to leave the country to escape the charges.
 Tax officials said the lawmaker did not file his Income Tax Return (ITR) for taxable years 2005, 2008 and 2009 while his wife did not file any return from 2003 to 2009.
 Meanwhile, Congressman Arroyo’s wife bought several real and personal properties from 2004 to 2009 but failed to file any annual Income Tax Return (ITR) and pay the taxes due.
 “The Arroyos act of non-filing of their income tax returns is evident of their fraudulent scheme to defeat payment of taxes,” an official said.
 A comparison of the increase of the couple’s net worth with their reported taxable income using the net worth method of investigation first used in the US against Al Capone revealed a substantial underdeclaration of income of more than 30% in the taxable years of 2004, 2006 and 2007.
 Under the Tax Code, an underdeclaration of taxable income of more than 30% was considered prima facie evidence of fraudulent return.