BIR: NO PENALTY FOR PAYMENT OF ANNUAL INCOME TAX RETURN 'ANYWHERE' UNTIL APRIL 17

MANILA - The Bureau of Internal Revenue said on Monday it has authorized the filing and payment of the 2022 annual income tax return (AITR) anywhere in order to expand services.

This was made possible with the release of Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 32-2-2023, which allowed taxpayers to settle their dues anywhere on or before April 17, 2023, without penalties imposed for wrong venue filing, the tax bureau said in a statement.

“I wanted to improve the services that we offer to the taxpaying public. My ultimate goal here is to provide each one of us the luxury of filing and paying our correct taxes at our most convenient time and place without any penalties involved. I am encouraging everyone, avoid the rush! File and pay as early as now before the April 17 deadline”, BIR Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui, Jr. said.

The BIR said taxpayers required to use the BIR’s Electronic Filing and Payment System (eFPS) should file their AITRs electronically and pay the correct taxes due through the eFPS-Authorized Agent Banks (AABs) where they are enrolled.

If filing cannot be made through eFPS, due to reasons mentioned in the circular, taxpayers should use the eBIRForms in filing, the agency said.

Meanwhile, payment of taxes due for the electronically filed returns through the eBIRForms can be made through any Authorized Agent Banks, Revenue Collection Officers (RCOs) in each Revenue District Offices (RDOs) or through the different Electronic Payment (ePayment) channels of the BIR, it said.

The "No Payment AITRs" should also be filed electronically. But taxpayers with “No Payment AITRs” are also allowed to manually file their 2022 AITR provided that they quality in any of the following:

• Senior Citizen (SC) or Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) filing for their own returns

• Employees deriving purely compensation income from two or more employers, concurrently or successively at any time during the taxable year, or from a single employer, although the income of which has been correctly subjected to withholding tax, but whose spouse is not entitled to substituted filing

• Employees qualified for substituted filing (those who are covered by Section 2.83.4 of Revenue Regulations No. 2-98, as amended), but opted to file for an ITR and are filing for purposes of promotion, loans, scholarships, foreign travel requirements, etc

30 PERCENT OF SIMS REGISTERED AS OF MARCH 27: NTC

At least 50.34 million SIMs have been registered as of March 27, National Telecommunications Commission Director Engr. Imelda Walcien said on Monday.

The total is equivalent to 30 percent of all active SIMs in the country, Walcien told Teleradyo.

The NTC urges citizens to register their SIMs before the April 26 deadline to avoid deactivation. Walcien said the agency is still studying an extension to the deadline.

SAN MIGUEL COP CHIEF SHOT DEAD IN ROBBERY TRY

San Miguel, Bulacan police chief Lt. Marlon Serna was shot dead Saturday night while responding to a robbery in Barangay San Juan, a police report said.

Serna’s team chanced upon two unidentified suspects riding a motorcycle, who opened fire.

Serna was hit in the head and taken to a nearby hospital where he died from his wounds.

The Philippine National Police later offered a P1.2 million reward for anyone who can give information on the whereabouts and identities of the suspects.

The reward came from the Department of Interior and Local Government,which gave P500,000; the Police Regional Office Region 3 which gave P300,000; PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., who gave P200,000; and Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando, who gave another P200,000.

Police Regional Office 3 Director Police Brigadier General JoseHidalgo Jr. said that he tasked the Bulacan Provincial Police Office to investigate the incident.

PNP spokesperson PCol. Jean Fajardo said Serna joined the pursuit operations using his own vehicle, and around 10:30 p.m., they encountered the suspects, who fired at them when they tried to intercept them.

The killers escaped towards Barangay Akle in San Ildefonso town.

Pursuit operations were ongoing.

OIL SPILL COMPENSATION SEEN ECLIPSING P1.1-B 2006 RECORD

Compensation claims as a result of the massive oil spill from the MT Princess Empress could surpass those filed in the aftermath of the environmental disaster in the Guimaras Strait in 2006, when the MT Solar sank with its cargo of 2 million liters of bunker fuel, a lawmaker said Sunday.

“If we look back at the MT Solar incident, a total of P1.1 billion was paid to settle 26,872 compensation claims, including those filed by owners of beach resorts, tour boat operators, and other tourism service providers hit by the 2006 oil spill,” said Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo, vice chairman of the House tourism committee.

The Guimaras disaster was widely considered the country’s worst oil spill in history.

But considering that the MT Solar episode happened 17 years ago, Rillo said the inflation-adjusted compensation claims with respect to the pollution damage caused by the MT Princess Empress may well exceed P1.1 billion.

“Apart from tourism-related claimants, we expect property owners hit by the oil spill to file compensation claims for damages to beachfront properties, fishing boats, and fishing gear,” Rillo said.

“Those who suffered economic losses, including fisherfolk, seaweed farmers, and fishpond operators, are likewise expected to file claims,” Rillo said.

Meanwhile, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Tingog party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Social Welfare and Development Secretary RexGatchalian distributed cash assistance of P3,000 to 600 oil spill victims in Oriental Mindoro.

Local governments that had to pay their staff extra in response to the oil spill are also expected to file claims, along with clean-up contractors and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Rillo said.

GOV’T LETTING US DICTATE TERMS OF EDCA—GROUP

The Marcos administration has been misleading Filipinos on the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) by letting the United States dictate the terms, the militant group Bayan Muna said on Sunday.

The EDCA expansion has allowed the creation of four new US troop bases in the Philippines on top of the existing five.

Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Colmenares cited two articles of the EDCA that are allegedly disadvantageous to the Philippines.

According to Article 4, “the prepositioned materiel of the US forcesshall be for the exclusive use of the US forces, and full title to all such equipment, supplies and materiel remains with the US. US forces shall have control over the access to and disposition of such prepositioned materiel.”

Colmenares pointed out that Article 4 lets the US store weapons, ammunition, and equipment in the Philippines, but the country has no say on these.

“It is noteworthy, that the US retained ‘control over the access and disposition’ of these materiel and the Filipinos could not access these highly sensitive and classified ‘prepositioned materiel.’ We cannot even monitor if they have chemical or nuclear weapons in these storage depots,” he added.

Colmenares also warned that local government units (LGUs) and communities would be forced to allow the entry of US forces and dangerous military materiel without consultation.

MORE THAN 1.3M FOREIGN GUESTS IN PH IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2023

MANILA – More than 1.3 million foreigners have arrived in the Philippines so far in 2023, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Monday.

“Ngayon, hindi pa natatapos yung ating first quarter, umabot na po tayo sa over 1.3 million international arrivals, tsaka over 90 percent noon yung international foreign guests,” said Secretary Garcia Frasco.

“So we’re seeing the momentum for recovery for tourism,” she added.

Frasco also noted that many tourist spots in the country seem to be welcoming more visitors this year, after having been badly hit by lockdowns imposed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re very happy to see, in many of our tourism establishments all over the Philippines, including our key destinations, yung iba record-breaking yung mga bookings nila, dahil some of them have even exceeded pandemic numbers but of course, others are still recovering, that’s why we’re doing our very best,” she said.

“Last year, our numbers would show that we were a little over 30 percent recovery. But, we foresee that this year, we will be recovering up to 4.8 million international visitors and 100 percent recovery for domestic tourism.”

The Philippines recorded 2.65 million tourist arrivals in 2022. It is hoping to attract nearly 5 million visitors to the country this year.

MORE FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES SEIZED IN RAID ON TEVES SUGAR MILL

MANILA – Police found a cache of gun, bullets, and suspected explosives buried at the sugar mill compound owned by former Negros Oriental Governor Pryde Henry Teves in Sta. Catalina town, Negros Oriental Saturday night.

In a telephone interview with ABS-CBN News, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) legal officer Col. Thomas Valmonte said operatives conducted a digging on a vacant lot within the 50-hectare compound on a tip-off.

Recovered buried about 10 feet in the ground were a firearm, hundreds of assorted live ammunitions, assorted fired cartridges and fired slugs, and three alleged improvised explosive devices.

“Itong witness na ‘to, kasama siya sa nagbaon,” Valmonte said. “Siguro nga, they expected for the search so binaon nila ‘yon.”

Police started the raid on the property on Friday by virtue of a search warrant order due to alleged violation of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunitions Regulation Act.

Earlier discovered were high-powered firearms, ammunition, and P18,000,000 in cash.

Philippine National Police spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said the confiscated guns, live ammunition, and fired bullets will be subjected to cross-matching and ballistics examinations to look if these were used in killings.

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BULACAN CITY TO HAVE 3 NEW BARANGAY

MANILA, Philippines — San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan will have three more villages participating in the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections this October.

This developed after residents of Barangay Muzon agreed to the division of the village into four barangays following a plebiscite conducted on Saturday, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Official results of the plebiscite showed that 12,324 voters or 93 percent of the total number of votes cast were in favor of the division of Barangay Muzon.

Only 969 voters or seven percent of the total votes cast objected to the ratification of Republic Act 11896, which would divide Barangay Muzon into Muzon Proper, Muzon East, Muzon West and Muzon South.

The Comelec said the plebiscite had a voter turnout of 30.43 percent, with only 13,322 of the 43,771 registered voters joining the electoral process.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the low voter turnout did not diminish the results of the plebiscite.

“It doesn’t matter if many or few voted. As long as there is plurality between the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ votes, the Comelec will proclaim the results,” Garcia said.

He said the electoral exercise was successful and peaceful.

“There was no violence, threats, intimidation and failure of elections. We just don’t talk about how many actually voted,” Garcia said.

The San Jose del Monte plebiscite was the second to be conducted in Bulacan within  a period of three months.

A similar process converting the municipality of Baliwag into a component city was conducted in December.

BRACE FOR WATER INTERRUPTIONS, EL NIÑO—MAYNILAD

Water concessionaire Maynilad has advised the public to be ready for possible water interruptions in the coming dry season and the threat of an El Nino phenomenon.

Maynilad said it will post possible water interruptions on its social media accounts, and Corporate Communications Head Jennifer Rufo also said the firm is expecting the water reservoirs on dams to dip, with fewer rain showers expected in the coming dry season.

Maynilad, however, said the supply of water from Angat Dam remains “good,” while noting that the water level at Ipo Dam has slightly dipped.

Maynilad also said several Metro Manila and Cavite areas experienced water service interruptions or low pressure on Saturday due to high water demand at the Bagbag Reservoir, GMA News reported.

Among the areas that were affected were parts of Caloocan, Manila, Malabon, Makati, Quezon City, Parañaque City, and Pasay City.

“The water level of our main reservoir dropped faster than anticipatedfollowing stronger withdrawal, likely due to the summer heat as more water is consumed,” the firm, quoted by GMA News, said.

PUBLIKO PINAG-IINGAT SA HEATSTROKE NGAYONG TAG-INIT

Pinapaalalahanan ng health reform advocate na si Dr. Tony Leachon ang lahat sa posibilidad ng heatstroke ngayong tag-init.

Ayon kay Leachon, mahalagang malaman ang maaaring idulot ng mataas na temperatura sa katawan at kung paano nagsisimula ang heat stroke na maaaring ikamatay ng mga makararanas nito.

"Kung ang katawan natin ay hindi natin kayang i-control yung ating internal temperature, at ang body temperature natin cannot reach 39 hanggang 40 degrees (Celcius). Ang ating katawan cannot cool down kasi yung sweating mechanism natin ay pumalya na o nag fail at ito ay maaaring fatal if left untreated," ani Leachon.

"Ang usual pasyente na naapektuhan nito ay yung mga bata at may edad, lalo na yung mga may comorbid conditions. Yung mga may diabetes, hypertension, may mga heart failure at yung mga bata naman na infants at mga nasa elementary," dagdag nito.

"But it could also happen to normal individuals lalo na kung sobra ang init ngayong mga panahon na ito."

Dapat din umanong malaman ang sintomas ng heatstroke upang maiwasan o agad na makapagbigay ng first aid sakaling may makitang makararanas nito.

FDA WARNS VS MERCURY-LACED COSMETICS

MANILA, Philippines — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the public against the purchase and use of imported cosmetic products that were found to contain mercury.

Karisma Turmeric Booster Cream and Flashhskinzz Beauty Treatment Cream were tested by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency of Malaysia and were found not compliant with the ASEAN Cosmetic Directive (ACD)’s technical standards.

The two creams were reported in the ASEAN Post-Marketing Alert System as containing mercury, “an ingredient that is not allowed to be part of a cosmetic product,” based on the ACD, the FDA said in an advisory.

Among the adverse effects of exposure to mercury are kidney damage, skin rashes, skin discoloration and scarring, the FDA said.

“Exposed pregnant women and nursing mothers transfer the mercury to their child, which can later result in neurodevelopment deficits,” the FDA added.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

'HAPPY KAMI': MARCO GUMABAO ADDRESSES RUMORED ROMANCE WITH CRISTINE REYES

MANILA – Marco Gumabao did mind being candid on the topic of his rumored romance with his former co-star Cristine Reyes.

In a press conference held on Thursday, Gumabao said they are currently just enjoying each other’s company.

“Basta you’ll find out when the time is right. Hindi naman sa hindi pa right time [ngayon] pero siguro, we’re just enjoying ‘yung time namin na kami muna, na wala munang nakikiusyoso,” he said, as quoted by Inquirer.

Although they are not denying going out, Gumabao said he and Reyes just prefer to keep things more private.

“Happy naman kami sa tahimik na buhay,” he said. “Hindi naman kami nagde-deny ni Cristine. Of course, napag-usapan na rin namin to, we’re not denying anything… Parang mas masarap lang na private at walang nakiki-ano.”

Nonetheless, Gumabao categorically stated that what they have now is something "special."

“Ayoko munang magsabi ng mga label-label na ganyan. For me, labels put a lot of pressure on your relationship. Basta ako, kaming dalawa, happy kami.”

The two got the chance to work in the ABS-CBN series “Tubig at Langis.”

Reyes has separated from her estranged husband Ali Khatibi, who is the father of her daughter Amarah.

SPORTS

MERALCO DEF. TNT, 124-117 IN OT, TIES SERIES PBA SEMIS GAME 2

Meralco Bolts escape past the TNT Tropang GIGA, 124-117 in overtime in Game 2 to tie the series at 1-1 in their best-of-5 semifinal in the 2023 PBA Governors' Cup on Sunday, March 26 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

The Scores:

MERALCO 124 - McDaniels 39, Black 28, Hodge 15, Maliksi 11, Quinto 11, Banchero 7, Newsome 5, Caram 3, Jose 3, Almazan 2.

TNT 117 – M Williams 29, Hollis-Jefferson 27, Castro 17, Oftana 13, Pogoy 12, Chua 11, Erram 6, Marcelo 2, Khobuntin 0, Varilla 0, Montalbo 0.

Quarters: 35-30, 59-49, 86-86, 112-112, 124-117

GINEBRA DEF. SAN MIGUEL, 121-103, TAKES COMMANDING 2-0 SERIES LEAD (VIDEO) PBA SEMIS GAME 2

Crowd-favorite Barangay Ginebra beats San Miguel Beermen, 121-103 in Game 2 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-5 semifinal series in the 2023 PBA Governors' Cup on Sunday, March 26 at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Justin Brownlee led the GinKings with huge double-double of 32 points (11/19fg, 4/10 3pts, 6/9ft), ten rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Christian Standhardinger with another solid output of 32 points, eight rebounds and seven assists while Scottie Thompson had a triple-double of 21 points (6/9fg, 3/4 3pts, 6/6ft) to go with eleven rebounds, eleven assists, three steals and two blocks in 37 minutes of play.

The Scores:

GINEBRA 121 - Brownlee 32, Standhardinger 32, Thompson 21, Malonzo 11, Gray 9, Pringle 7, Pinto 5, Mariano 4, Pessumal 0, Onwubere 0.

SAN MIGUEL 103 – Clark 23, Perez 20, Ross 19, Tautuaa 12, Lassiter 8, Cruz 5, Bulanadi 5, Herndon 5, Enciso 3, Brondial 2, Faundo 1, Manuel 0.

Quarters: 31-24, 63-45, 94-72, 121-103

NBA: LEBRON RETURNS TO ACTION AFTER 13-GAME ABSENCE

LOS ANGELES, United States - LeBron James, who missed the past 13 NBA games for the Los Angeles Lakers with a tendon injury in his right foot, was reactivated on Sunday.

James was available for the Lakers' home game against the Chicago Bulls after testing his foot, the club saying the 38-year-old forward would come off the bench in the contest.

The only other time James has been a reserve in his 20-year NBA career was in 2007 when he played for Cleveland.

The Lakers went 8-5 without James to reach 37-37 and stand eighth in the Western Conference with the same record as number seven Minnesota and number nine New Orleans in the fight for play-in post-season positions.

James, who last played on February 26, has missed 27 games this season due to injury, matching the most of any campaign in his career.

James, who last month became the NBA's all-time scoring leader, leads the Lakers with an average of 29.5 points a game this season.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain. - James Baldwin