President Duterte has ordered the arrest of the owner of Mighty Corporation after customs authorities confiscated a huge haul of tobacco products with counterfeit tax stamps.
“Yes I ordered his arrest.. He’s the one behind it,” the President told reporters in Malacañang, citing the company’s involvement in “fake cigarette stamps.”
“It’s not a matter of BIR, tax laws. It’s falsification,” Duterte added about the alleged violations committed by the tobacco manufacturer.
Chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo earlier said the tobacco company could face charges of “economic sabotage” for the fake stamp issue.
Panelo, speaking to reporters in the Palace, said the tobacco firm could be held liable for defrauding the government of millions of revenues for its alleged illegal activity.
It was Panelo who confirmed that the President has called for the arrest of the tobacco owner in the wake of the fake stamp issue and a botched bribery attempt.
The President, meantime, clarified an earlier Palace announcement about a failed bribery attempt allegedly by the the tobacco firm in the past.
Duterte made clear that no bribery took place because he rejected the holiday present which contained money. The incident happened when he was still mayor of Davao City, he said.
Without identifying the person, Duterte admitted though that the person asked for a “favor,” which he declined.
The person, he said, then left a package which he initially thought was wine but turned out to be a cash gift.
“No, there was a Christmas gift. It was a gun during… last Christmas. Sabi ko, hindi ko tinanggap. And when I was Mayor, hindi naman, wala namang sinabi, basta iniwan lang. May hiningi pabor, sabi ko I am not into it,” Duterte said when asked if the same tobacco company tried to bribe him.
“Pero pag-tindig niya may naiwan doon na parang – Hindi naman, wala naman bribery, kasi wala naman sinabi. Parang gratis,” he added.
Still, Duterte said he asked his assistant Christopher “Bong” Go to return the Christmas gift to the giver.
“Pero ‘yung tiningnan ‘nong aide ko, pera. Sabi ko ihabol mo kung saan ‘yung g***** ‘yan. So nahabol niya sa eroplano mismo,” he said. (GENALYN KABILING)
