MANILA, Philippines – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Monday, April 26, filed a criminal complaint against former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, his wife Mylah Reyes Roque, and Percival Sazon Ortega over alleged tax evasion linked to Biancham Holdings and Trading Inc.

The complaint, filed before the Department of Justice, alleges that the three failed to file the required tax returns and pay the corresponding taxes due on the transfer of shares of stock and on an increase in authorized capital stock.

The BIR estimates the total tax deficiency at more than P3.35 million, inclusive of surcharges and interest.

According to the BIR, there is probable cause to charge the Roques and Ortega with willful attempt to evade taxes under Section 254, and failure to file tax returns under Section 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.

Biancham Holdings and Trading Inc. — a company previously owned by Roque and his associates — made headlines at the height of investigations into illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs), which mainly involved Chinese nationals.

During a Senate investigation on POGOs, it was revealed that Roque has a business “interest” in a house in Tuba, Benguet, where a Chinese fugitive was arrested.

The house is owned by a corporation called PH2, which is owned by Roque’s family corporation, Biancham Holdings and Trading.

Roque has been out of the country after he was linked to the POGO controversy. His passport was cancelled in November 2025. – Rappler.com