Jeane Napoles refuses to enter plea in tax evasion case

MANILA - Jeane Catherine Napoles, daughter of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles, refused to enter a plea during her arraignment for a P17.4 million tax evasion case at the Court of Tax Appeals.

The refusal of Napoles to enter a plea prompted CTA 3rd Division Associate Justice Esperanza Fabon-Victorino to enter a ''not guilty'' plea on her behalf.

The younger Napoles was earlier charged with tax evasion after she failed to file income tax returns in 2011 and 2012.

The younger Napoles supposedly bought a condominium unit at the Ritz Carlton in Los Angeles, California for $1,280,000 (P54.73 million) in July 2011.

Her tax liability has ballooned to about P32 million due to non-payment and interest.

Napoles' lawyers agreed to the arraignment without prejudice to their pending motion for reconsideration.

In an interview after the arraignment, Napoles lawyer Stephen David reiterated their point that Napoles is unemployed and is therefore not required to pay income tax.

Napoles is also facing another tax case, which is for the non-filing of income tax returns (ITR). She also refused to enter a plea in that case. The two tax cases are now consolidated at the 3rd Division.

At the height of the pork barrel scam, the younger Napoles was criticized after she was seen flaunting her lavish lifestyle via social media amid allegations that her mother stole public funds by forging illegal deals with lawmakers.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Jeane Napoles files counter-affidavit on tax raps from London

MANILA - The condominium unit in upscale Ritz Carlton in Los Angeles, California maybe under her name but Jeane Catherine Napoles, the most high profile of alleged "pork" scam architect Janet Lim Napoles' children, insists that the P54.73 million property is actually owned by her parents.

Now in London, as her eight-page counter-affidavit on tax evasion charges submitted to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday shows, Napoles denied non-payment of income taxes to the Philippine government for taxable years 2011 and 2012, the same years records show she acquired the California property and a lot in Bayambang, Pangasinan where she has a P1.49 million share.

Napoles subscribed to her counter-affidavit before Consul-General Senen Mangalile of the Philippine Embassy in the United Kingdom. Her lawyer submitted the document to handling fiscal Assistant State Prosecutor Stewart Allan Mariano.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) slapped the younger Napoles with a P32.06 million tax evasion complaint, alleging that she did not file any income tax return (ITR) for the above-mentioned years.

The BIR also said that no donor's tax nor estate tax was paid by Ms. Napoles to prove that the properties were given to her as gifts or donations.

The expenditure method of investigation was used by the BIR in arriving at Ms. Napoles' alleged tax liability: her unreported income was established by comparing the amount of money she spent to purchase the properties and her unreported income.

The BIR claims Ms. Napoles acquired a tax identification number (TIN) in 2008, but has not filed any ITR ever since.

The preliminary investigation into the complaint against Ms. Napoles will resume on Feb. 18, to coincide with the hearing on her parents' separate tax evasion case.

The BIR is running after P44.68 million in unpaid taxes from Mrs. Napoles, while her husband, Jaime, faces a P16.43 million tax evasion case.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Jeane Napoles charged with tax evasion

First, her parents Janet and Jimmy Napoles; now, it's the turn of Jeane Napoles to be charged with tax evasion before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) charged the younger Napoles with violations of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) for an alleged total tax liability of P32.06 million, inclusive of surcharges and interests, for taxable years 2011 and 2012.

BIR Commissioner Kim Henares said Napoles was able to acquire a condominium unit at the Ritz Carlton in Los Angeles, California worth P54.73 million; and has a share, equivalent to P1.49 million, in a Bayambang, Pangasinan property purchased in 2012.

"She, however, did not file any income tax return (ITR) in 2011 and 2012; nor were there any records of returns filed that will prove that gifts, bequests or devices were given to her.

"There was no donor's tax or estate tax paid either," Henares said.

The BIR used the Expenditure Method of Investigation, where Napoles' unreported income was established by comparing the amount of money she spent to purchase the properties and her unreported income.

“The presumption is to be able to buy something worth P54.73 million, she would have earned an income net of taxes of P54.73 million. This is a conservative estimate because hindi pa namin binibilang yung gastos mo para mabuhay ka, kung nagpapa-party ka gabi gabi,” she said.

Henares said Napoles acquired a tax identification number (TIN) with the BIR in 2008, but has not filed any ITR eversince.

The charges against Jeane Napoles is the 191st filed by the bureau under its Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program under the Aquino administration.

Ritzy lifestyle

Janet Lim Napoles, who has been implicated in the P10-billion pork barrel and Malampaya fund scandal, earlier confirmed that she bought the Ritz Carlton unit in Los Angeles for her daughter as a reward for doing good in school.

She also admitted giving her daughter a Porsche Cayenne and a Porsche Boxster.

The younger Napoles earlier came under fire after her Instagram photos showed expensive cars she received from her parents during her birthday, debut and graduation from college.

The photos also show expensive watches, jewelry, clothing, and shoes.

The BIR has also filed tax evasion charges against Janet Lim Napoles and her husband.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Jeane Napoles' Ritz Carlton unit up for sale

Condominium being sold for $1.475 million

LOS ANGELES - A controversial condominium unit in a downtown Los Angeles high rise, owned by one of the children of a businesswoman embroiled in the P10-billion pork barrel scam in the Philippines, is on the market.

Several realty websites show that the home of Jeane Napoles, the daughter of Janet Lim Napoles, at the Ritz Carlton is up for sale.

The listing was posted on several American realty websites on September 23.

The 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom unit which covers over 1500 square feet is being listed at the price of $1.475 million.

Price per square feet is at $934.14.

According to public realty records, the unit was purchased under Jeane C Napoles' name in July of 2011 for $1.28 million.

Sources from the Ritz Carlton told Balitang America that a Napoles employee was seen moving bags of Jeane's belongings days before the August 26 anti-pork barrel protest.

Dozens of Filipino-Americans protested outside of the Ritz Carlton on August 26 during a global day of action against the pork barrel system.

A record search of the three other Southern California Napoles-linked properties shows that none of them are up for sale.

A Balitang America report earlier listed several US properties owned by the Napoles family.

These include the Anaheim Express Inn valued at about $7 million, a $1.4 million home in the affluent Canyon View gated community in Irvine and a commercial property in the Los Angeles County City of Covina.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Palace releases PNoy photo with Janet Napoles

MANILA - Malacañang on Thursday released photographs of President Aquino with Janet Napoles, her husband Jimmy and daughter Jeane, along with several others taken in a function in Cebu in November 2012.

It also included a group photo of Aquino with Napoles and fashion designer Renee Salud.

In releasing the batch of 24 photos, the Palace wanted to show that President Aquino only obliged to photo requests of several people even without knowing them personally.

The Palace reiterated that Aquino did not know Napoles personally.

"He doesn't know them personally. He still didn't know them personally," said Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO) Secretary Ricky Carandang.

"I've shown some of those photos and it's really just a question of her going and asking for the picture. He didn't even know who she was," he added.

The Palace released the photos after a picture of Aquino with Jeane Napoles surfaced on social media.

Following this, however, the Palace will not set restrictions on people who wish to pose for pictures with the President, saying politicians normally oblige to photo requests.


"Mahirap gawin 'yon. Kung magpunta ka sa isang event--at alam niyo naman, nakasama na rin kayo sa ilang mga event ni Presidente--marami talagang nagpapa-picture sa kanya and let's not just limit it to the President. You're a senator, you're a congressman, when you go to a public event, talagang nagpapa-picture ang tao sa inyo," Carandang said.

"And, I know this from experience ha, 'pag hindi ka pumayag magpa-picture, minsan magagalit pa sila. I think it's the right of our people, if they want to get pictures taken."

Carandang stressed that a photograph with Napoles doesn't necessarily mean guilt.

"The public understands that a picture with someone does not mean that they are guilty. Now, if there are funds that were allegedly misspent, ibang issue po 'yon," Carandang said.

"Pero I think the public will understand, regardless of who it is, na kung... may nagpa-picture sa'yo, na hindi mo naman kilala, hindi mo naman masisisi 'yung isang pulitiko na nagpa-picture siya."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Jeane Napoles owns a Ritz-Carlton unit

Jeane Napoles, the daughter of a businesswoman who has been implicated in the P10-billion pork barrel, Malampaya, and fertilizer fund scandals, owns a unit at the Ritz-Carlton Residences building in Los Angeles, documents show.

The plush condotel, which is outside the LA Live Plaza and the Staples Center, is home to many rich and famous people including professional athletes and celebrities.

According to official records of the County of Los Angeles, Napoles is owner of a Ritz Carlton's unit that has assessor's parcel number 5138-027-110.

Unit prices at the building range from $800,000 (P34.8 million) to $9.3 million (P404.6. million) each, according to luxuryrealestate.com.

Neighbors who declined to speak on camera say, while her mother Janet Lim-Napoles has come to visit, the younger Napoles was often seen in her Porsche.



Jeane is described as tall and friendly, greeting fellow Filipino tenants as she attended the prestigious Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise that carried a $30,000 an estimated P1.3 million annual tuition.

But her neighbors say lately, she has not been seen around the heavily secured condotel.

Jeane's ritzy lifestyle triggered an online firestorm after her Instagram and Tumblr accounts showed photos of Porsche cars, designer bags, expensive shoes, and jewelry her parents bought for her.

Her personal sites also show her taste in fashion, as well as her passion for travel and parties.

Another video clip sourced from Vimeo and made public on YouTube also shows how she spent her 21st birthday party at Beverly Hills.


ABS-CBN News, meanwhile, has also received information that the older Napoles owns a hotel near Disneyland in Los Angeles.

Napoles did not deny this but said all of their properties come from legitimate business.

"Hindi tatlo, isa lang ho malapit sa disneyland. May partner po kami mga foreigner, (7 million dollars) more or less. Pero hulugan iyun," she said.

"Wala po na nanggaling sa gobyerno, ni piso. Lahat pong yan ay hanapubuhay namin galing sa aming pinaghirapan," she added. "Kaming mag-asawa ay nagpapakamatay na maghanapbuhay para maibigay po namin sa aming mga anak."

Former AFP supplier

Former Marine Col. Ariel Querubin said Napoles was only a minor Armed Forces supplier in the past.

He said Napoles was also borrowing money for capital from his late wife, Loreta.




Querubin and Janet's husband Jimmy were part of the 1989 coup attempt against the Cory Aquino government.

This made them close, with Janet also becoming a godmother of Querubin's daughter.

He remembered the Napoles couple had a simple home in Biñan, Laguna.

This made him wonder about the family's posh lifestyle now.

He said Janet Napoles must face justice if it is proven that her family wealth is ill-gotten and came from public money.

"They have to prove that. Kung mapruwebahan panagutan nila. Pera ng taxpayers yung allegedly nagamit. Dapat managot sila sa taumbayan," Querubin said.

Janet has been placed on the Bureau of Immigration's lookout bulletin.

In a memo dated July 15, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima instructed Immigration officers to discreetly be on alert for Janet Lim Napoles and her brother Jojo Lim should either of them pass through the air or sea ports in the country and to immediately inform her or the NBI should either attempt to leave the country. - with reports from Steve Angeles, ABS-CBN North America; Anthony Taberna, ABS-CBN News

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Jeane Napoles' ritzy lifestyle triggers online firestorm

MANILA - Jeane Napoles -- the daughter of businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles who is tagged as the alleged brains behind the P10-billion pork barrel and Malampaya scam -- has found herself in the middle of an online firestorm due to her lavish lifestyle.

The younger Napoles has deleted her Instagram accounts showing photos of Porsche cars, designer bags, expensive shoes, and jewelry her parents bought for her, but some of the photos and a video clip have made their way to the public eye.

Her old Tumblr account has not been deleted. It shows her taste in fashion as well as her passion for travel and parties.

Another video clip sourced from Vimeo and made public on YouTube also shows how she spent her 21st birthday party at Beverly Hills.

Her mother, in a "TV Patrol" interview, has confirmed the authenticity of the cars and luxury items her daughter owns, but said these were paid using money earned in their legitimate business ventures.

The revelation has triggered various responses online.

Some expressed disgust over the young Napoles' ostentatious display of wealth.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com