The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has served a warrant of distraint and levy against Atty. Levito Baligod and his spouse over an alleged ₱30.53 million tax deficiency from the 2022 taxable year.
Based on the warrant provided by Baligod, the tax bureau is seeking a total of ₱30,529,343.53. This calculation excludes additional penalties and increments connected to the delinquency.
The breakdown of the bureau’s assessment includes:
- Value-added tax: ₱14.62 million
- Income tax: ₱14.09 million
- Withholding tax: ₱1.35 million
- Miscellaneous charges: ₱271,000
- Fixed tax: ₱190,173.76
- Registration fee: ₱3,460.68
According to the directive, the collection process was triggered under the National Internal Revenue Code after the taxpayers supposedly “failed and refused” to settle their obligations despite prior notices. Under domestic tax regulations, a warrant of distraint permits the state to confiscate personal belongings, whereas a warrant of levy permits the government to seize or auction real estate to cover overdue tax debts.
However, Baligod has challenged the BIR’s claims, asserting that the corresponding dues for 2022 were settled long ago.
This tax enforcement arrives shortly after a Makati City court directed law enforcement to arrest Baligod regarding a cyberlibel lawsuit initiated by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.
The legal battle stems from Baligod’s public assertions tying Laurel to the transport of kickback funds hidden inside suitcases.
Baligod also serves as the legal counsel for 18 individuals who allegedly functioned as couriers for funds connected to flood control anomalies.
Taking to social media, Baligod decried the government’s moves as politically motivated intimidation.
“The Warrant of Distraint/Levy on our properties is an obvious harassment by the administration because, over and above already-paid taxes in 2022, BIR is demanding an alleged deficiency the amount of which is a monstrosity,” Baligod said in a social media post.
He explicitly connected the financial crackdown to his ongoing cyberlibel prosecution, highlighting the tight timeline between his arrest order and the issuance of the tax warrant.
“You want to rob us of the fruits of our honest toil? Tapos, isisilid niyo lang ‘yan sa maleta! We’d rather see you in court,” he said.
Baligod has yet to release documentary proof validating his claims of prior tax settlement. Meanwhile, the BIR has kept mum on the lawyer’s allegations and has not detailed the exact findings behind the multi-million peso deficiency assessment.