Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

Atty. Harry Roque along with Alpha Tolosa-Serranilla, sister of missing pharmaceutical executive Eduardo Tolosa, show the media a photo of primary suspect Carlo Cadampog as they appeal for him to appear before authorities regarding the case of the 50-year-old at the Department of Justice in Manila on September 7, 2022. Tolosa was last seen on July 19 whose charred SUV was later recovered in Pampanga. Roque said 4 witnesses claim that they took part in burying, exhuming, and later burning the body of Tolosa. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

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ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177728799623020220907-roque-tollosa-doj-GC-5.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Atty. Harry Roque at the Department of Justice in Manila on September 7, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File" width="960"/>Atty. Harry Roque at the Department of Justice in Manila on September 7, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed a criminal complaint before the Department of Justice against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, his wife, and an associate over alleged tax violations. In a press release, the BIR said the complaint was lodged on April 27 against Roque, his wife Mylah Reyes Roque, and his associate, Percival Sazon Ortega in connection with Biancham Holdings and Trading, Inc.BIR said its investigation found that the respondents allegedly failed to file required tax returns and pay taxes due on the transfer of shares of stock and an increase in authorized capital stock.The total estimated tax deficiency has reached more than P3.35 million, inclusive of surcharges and interest.Based on its findings, the BIR said there is probable cause to charge the respondents with willful attempt to evade taxes under Section 254 of the National Internal Revenue Code, as well as failure to file tax returns under Section 255. Under the law, tax evasion carries penalties of fines ranging from P500,000 to P10 million and imprisonment of six to 10 years, while failure to file returns may also result in fines and jail times of up to 10 years.  Roque is facing a human trafficking case over his alleged ties to a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub.He left the Philippines in September 2024 after being cited for contempt for refusing to attend Senate hearings into offshore gambling sites allegedly used as fronts for criminal activities.In November of last year, he traveled to Vienna to process his asylum application.<div> </div><div>MORE COMPLAINTS</div>Aside from the complaint against the Roques, the BIR also filed separate tax evasion cases against Terjonan Transport Company Inc. and its officers, Rhodora Andrada Zamora and Maria Teresa Emflorgo Sarmiento, over unpaid value-added tax amounting to more than P9 million for the taxable year 2017.Another individual, Niefel Mae Heria Demonteverde, also received a complaint from the BIR for delinquent tax liabilities worth over P8 million, for the taxable year 2019.BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza said the filing of the complaints is part of the agency’s intensified campaign against tax evasion under its Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program. -- with a report from Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

The BIR has filed a criminal complaint before the DOJ against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, his wife, and an associate.

The BIR has filed a criminal complaint before the DOJ against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, his wife, and an associate.

BIR files tax evasion rap vs Harry Roque, others

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BIR files tax evasion rap vs Harry Roque, others

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 27, 2026 06:48 PM PHT

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Updated April 27, 2026 07:07 PM PHT

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Harry Roque

BIR

Tax evasion

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