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LAPU-LAPU CITY, Philippines – The Mactan Island Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) is requesting Lapu-Lapu City treasurer Elenita Catagcatag to provide the tax records of Mayor Arturo Radaza, other city and barangay (village) officials and top businessmen.
MICCI President Efrain Pelaez Jr. said they want to know whether these officials and businessmen are remiss or updated in the payment of taxes.
He added that they are willing to provide volunteers to look into their records.
The move came in the wake of a Lapu-Lapu city council resolution imposing new taxes in the city. Pelaez said since members of the chamber were targeted with additional taxes and fees, including reassessments of their properties, it is but natural for them to demand transparency and equal accountability from the city officials themselves.
“Are we to assume that they are all religiously paying their taxes and (these are) fully updated as of 2008? We would be very happy to know who are the real tax cheats of Lapu-Lapu City,” Pelaez’ letter stated.
Pelaez said he supports the “Catch-A-Tax Evader” program of the Lapu-Lapu City government and so he wants full transparency on the tax records of these officials and businessmen.
Because of this, Pelaez said the chamber wants to see the master printout of all delinquencies and taxes due on all properties in Lapu-Lapu City. He added that as taxpayers it is their right to see these records at the treasurer’s office together with a representative of the Ombudsman.
Aside from examining the records, Pelaez said they want to see proof of payments made and when they were last updated.
He also said the chamber is asking that these be published in newspapers.
The chamber president said he hopes the treasurer's office would provide them the records, adding they have requested tax information on Radaza Holdings since September last year.
Radaza Holdings is developer of the Radaza Plaza as well as the ACM Aileen’s Craft Manufacturing beside Mayor Radaza’s residence.
Aside from Radaza others included in the letter are city councilors Efren Herrera, Damian Gomez, Junard Chan, city administrator Teodulo Ybañez, city legal officer Vincent Joseph Lim, city acting police director Louie Oppus; ABC president Leo Mercado. /Correspondent Chris A. Ligan
