Padaca readies tax evasion charges vs 5 town mayors

ILAGAN, Isabela– Five mayors here are facing charges of tax evasion for failing to remit the provincial government’s share of real property taxes.

Gov. Grace Padaca said the five mayors repeatedly ignored requests for them to do so.

Alicia town headed by Mayor Napoleon Dy has allegedly not remitted a single centavo for the last five years.

But Dy said he is willing to face the charges. “These charges are old hat. We are ready to answer them. Anyway, we have not received anything from the provincial government. We better directly utilize the money for projects and services for our own constituents.”

Padaca said other delinquent towns are Angadanan, San Isidro, Santo Tomas, which she said have “very irresponsible and erring mayors and treasurers,” and this capital town.

“Alicia and Angadanan have never remitted a single centavo for the last five years or since I assumed the governorship,” said Padaca in her State of the Province Address last week.

The mayors of the five towns and 10 of their colleagues identified with the Dy clan skipped the event.

Alicia’s Dy, president of the provincial mayors’ league, is the brother of former governors Faustino Dy Jr. and Benjamin Dy, who lost to Padaca in the 2004 and 2007 elections, respectively.

Despite the five towns’ delinquency in settling their obligations, Padaca though said the provincial government “continued to implement projects in their localities, and our constituents there are very aware that we are never remiss in extending services to them.”

“It’s not my problem if the mayor or barangay chairman doesn’t like me. I am reaching out to the people; I am serving the Apo Isabelino. No one can prevent us from helping them directly,” she added.

Vice Gov. Ramon Reyes said they would fully support Padaca in running after delinquent municipalities for their real property tax remittances. -- CL