The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed a tax evasion case against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, his wife Mylah Reyes Roque, and their associate Percival Sazon Ortega, citing alleged deficiencies amounting to more than ₱3.35 million involving their company Biancham Holdings and Trading, Inc. The complaint was formally lodged before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on April 27, 2026.

The BIR said its investigation found that the respondents failed to file mandatory tax returns and neglected to pay taxes due on the transfer of shares of stock and the increase in authorized capital stock of Biancham Holdings and Trading, Inc. The bureau added that the total estimated deficiency, inclusive of surcharges and interest, reached ₱3.35 million.

The complaint charges the Roques and Ortega with violations under Section 254 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, which penalizes willful attempts to evade or defeat taxes, and Section 255, which covers failure to file tax returns. These provisions carry penalties ranging from fines of ₱500,000 to ₱10 million and imprisonment of six to ten years.

BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza emphasized that the filing is part of the agency’s intensified Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program, which seeks to strengthen revenue collection and ensure accountability among individuals and corporations who deliberately evade taxes. “We will continue to pursue legal actions against those who ignore lawful assessments,” Mendoza said.

Roque, however, strongly denied the allegations, calling the case “legally and factually baseless” and “politically motivated.” He argued that no issuance of shares had been made pursuant to any alleged increase in authorized capital stock. “Absent actual issuance or subscription of shares, there is no taxable event that could give rise to liability under Philippine tax law,” Roque said. He also insisted that all required tax returns had been properly filed.

The case adds to Roque’s ongoing legal troubles. He has previously been linked to Lucky South 99, a Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Porac, Pampanga, which was raided in 2024 over allegations of human trafficking. Documents bearing his signature were reportedly found during the raid, and he has since faced arrest orders and applied for asylum abroad, which was reportedly denied.

The DOJ is expected to review the complaint and determine whether formal charges will be filed in court. The case underscores the government’s broader crackdown on tax evasion and financial irregularities, signaling stricter enforcement of fiscal accountability among high-profile figures.

This development is likely to draw significant public attention, given Roque’s prominence as a former presidential spokesperson and his continued involvement in political and legal controversies.