MANILA -- Almost a week after padlocking Great Empire Gaming and Amusement Corporation offices, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) lifted the closure order after the Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) service provider agreed to pay tax liabilities amounting to about PHP1.3 billion.
In a lifting of closure order issued last Sept. 27, BIR Deputy Commissioner Arner SD. Guballa said the POGO agreed “to comply with the requirement under Section 236 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 (as amended).”
Such section of the National Internal Revenue Code requires companies to register with the BIR for purposes of value-added tax collection and registration of workers, among others.
He said the order covers the POGO service provider’s branches in Subic Bay Freeport, Aseana City in Paranaque City and Eastwood Global Plaza in Quezon City.
All these three branches of one of the biggest POGO service providers in the country were ordered closed last Sept. 25 after simultaneous operations by joint BIR, police, and Department of Finance (DOF) personnel.
BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay, in a message forwarded to journalists by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, said on Tuesday that Great Empire Gaming and Amusement Corporation “offered to pay PHP250 million and (the) balance in three months up to end-December in post-dated checks.”
“I approved (the) recommendation of POGO Task Force and BIR received payment of PHP250 million,” he said.
Dulay said the company was allowed to restart operations effective September 30, but it was “required to update withholding tax payments and register employees.”
The government has set its eyes on the booming POGO-related industry in line with its program to increase collection and make it more efficient.
Authorities earlier said revenue from this sector is projected to reach PHP2 billion per month. (PNA)
