MANILA – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has formed a team in charge of probing Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista and his relatives for possible tax evasion, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Wednesday.
The move comes amid allegations of Bautista's estranged wife Patricia Paz stating that the poll body chief has undeclared wealth worth PHP1 billion.
Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II said that BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay issued Revenue Special Order. No. 706-217 which ordered the formation of a team who will investigate possible violations of the National Internal Revenue Code by Bautista, her wife Patricia Paz, Atty. Nilo Divina and his Divine law firm, Luzon Development Bank (LDB) "and other related parties."