BIR reopens padlocked store
ROXAS CITY – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has reopened Black and White Supermart and its drug store on Friday after owner Mr. Leny Albert Apaitan paid the amount of some P1 million pesos in taxes.
Apaitan said with the reopening of their store people not only from Roxas City and Capiz but also those coming from Aklan, Masbate and Romblon could again avail of their merchandise sold at low prices.
They have also launched a promotion with several motorcycles at stake as part of their reopening.
The reopening was witnessed by BIR Revenue District Officer Gil Tabanda and Ms. Grace Balgos, Chief Tax Payer’s Service Section, and other personnel.
Apaitan, president of Roxas City Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, said that he was able to pay some P1 million as initial payment of taxes while the rest of P64 million which he questioned will be subjected for negotiation for appeal and consideration.
Earlier, various business organizations passed a resolution of support and sympathy to the Apaitan family owners of Black & White Supermart and B&W Drug Store which were paclocked by BIR’s Oplan Kandado the other week.
Apaitan expressed disbelief that their tax liability covering January 2008 to March 2009 as declared by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) reached to P64 million.
In a press release sent to the media here, Apaitan said that it is impossible for a small store like theirs to have such a very high tax obligation.
“There is no way we can ever pay such overwhelming tax charges,” he lamented.
Apaitan, president of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce Capiz Chapter, said that he is a law-abiding citizen with a high-paying tax record and has no record of tax evasion which according to him, the local BIR can vouch for his claim.
According to him, he respected the said finding as they submitted themselves for further scrutiny and made representation to the BIR-Capiz District Officer to negotiate for an amendment to the above tax charges where the BIR agreed on it before the end of August.
However, he lamented that despite such agreement of the amended deal, BIR-Manila effected a closure order.