Pharmally kompanyang fly by night (Tax clearance kinuwestiyon)

ni ROSE NOVENARIO

LUMALABAS na hindi rehistrado sa Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) ang Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation base sa pahayag ni Sen. Franklin Drilon na wala itong tax clearance pero nakasungkit ng kontratang P10-B halaga ng medical supplies sa administrasyong Duterte. 

Giit ni Drilon, para makasali sa government bidding ang isang kompanya ay kailangan makakuha ng tax clearance mula sa BIR.

Ngunit walang record aniya na may tax clearance ang Phramally.

“The BIR should review possible violations of the tax laws committed by this dubious and shadowy company that bagged billions of pesos in government contracts. They should zero in on potential tax crimes and tax fraud by Pharmally,” ani Drilon sa isang kalatas kahapon,

Bukod sa tax clearance, bubusisiin ng Senado kung nagbayad ng tamang buwis ang Pharmally at kung saan ‘sumikwat’ ng kuwarta para pondohan ang P10 bilyon halaga ng medical supplies contract na ipinagkaloob sa kompanya ng Procurement Service – Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) sa ilalim ni dating Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao, gayong P625,000 lamang ang kanilang paid-up capital.

Batay sa financial statement ng Pharmally, hindi malinaw kung nagbayad ng tamang buwid, at sa Bayanihan 1 at 2 ay hindi value added tax (VAT) exempted ang local purchases.

“Therefore, the amount paid to Pharmally should have been subject to a 2 percent withholding tax on government payments, and a 5 percent VAT withholding,” ani Drilon.

“Furthermore, the sale of the PPE to government is subject to an output VAT of 12 percent because the product they imported are exempt, therefore, they would not have any input VAT to deduct except for the 5 percent VAT withheld if this was properly withheld from the payment to Pharmally by PS-DBM,” dagdag ng Senador.

“Apart from the issue of overpricing, there could be violations of our tax laws by Pharmally. We should examine the potential tax liabilities of this dubious trading firm. Did Pharmally pay any percentage tax? Did it pay any excise tax and documentary stamp tax payments?”

Klasipikado aniya ang Pharmally bilang isang domestic corporation kaya saklaw ito ng mga probisyon ng Section 27 ng Tax Code.

Misteryoso at talagang kaduda-duda at walang indikasyon kung paano nagkaroon ng P7 bilyon ang Pharmally upang tustusan ang inventory supplies nito gayong P625,000 ang paid-up capital nito.

Hinimok ng senador ang mga opisyal ng Pharmally na dumalo sa imbestigasyon ng Senado at huwag magtago.

Nauana rito’y ibinisto ni Drilon na ibinigay ng PS-DBM ang P1.89 bilyong halaga ng kontrata para sa supply ng face shields sa Xuzhou Construction Co., isang construction company na nakabase sa China at hindi rehistrado sa Filipinas.

“It is not even a registered corporation (in the Philippines). It is based on China. It is a construction company. How in heaven’s name, can we justify this?” sabi ni Drilon sa panayam sa “The Chiefs” sa One News nitong nakaraang Biyernes.

Nakasaad aniya sa batas na dapat ay rehistrado sa Filipinas ang isang kompanya bago makipagtransaksiyon sa gobyerno.

“Suppose, something goes wrong. How do you sue them? When in fact, they must have a license to do business here. They must have a recipient where summons can be served. These are requirements of law,” mariing pahayag ni Drilon.