The Department of Justice (DOJ) secured the conviction of a businessman for tax evasion (Section 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code) after the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) sentenced Dr. Joel C. Mendez to an indeterminate prison term of one to three years and a fine of P10,000.

Based from court records, Dr. Mendez who is the sole proprietor of “Weigh Less Center” in No. 31 Roces Avenue, Quezon City, unlawfully failed to file his income tax returns for the year 2001 resulting in “damage and prejudice of the Government in an estimated amount of P1,089,439.08.”

“Let this be a warning to those who willfully deceive the government by deliberately evading their tax responsibilities, we have our eyes on you.” Secretary Emmanuel L. Caparas emphasized.

In another case, the DOJ successfully prosecuted the case filed against Juan Carlos Palanca for misappropriating more than P7M entrusted to him by a relative for the purchase of shares of stocks of the Bloomberry Resorts Corporation.

In a 14-page Judgement, the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 204 found Palanca guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Estafa (Art. 315 par. 1[b] of the Revised Penal Code) and sentenced him to an indeterminate penalty of imprisonment from two years, eleven months and eleven days of prision correccional as minimum to 20 years as maximum with all the accessory penalties.

He was also ordered to pay complainant Derrick Chiongbian the amount of P7,141,327.20 with interest thereon at six percent from the time of judicial demand on June 4, 2013 until fully paid and to pay the costs of suit.

Caparas also lauded Senior Assistant State Prosecutors Juan Pedro C. Navera, Susan F. Dacanay and Edna A. Valenzuela for successfully prosecuting the case against Mendez and Assistant State Prosecutor Xerxes Garcia who handled the case against Palanca.