The Lucio Tan tax evasion case

A criminal case against a billionaire is a rarity in relation to the tens of thousands of cases filed each year with the Philippine courts.

A criminal case arising out of tax evasion is another rarity where most tax assessment cases are settled by the internal revenue commissionerÆs power to compromise, or failing that, are instituted with the Court of Tax Appeals not as criminal cases.

But a Ps25.3 billion US$ tax criminal case against Lucio Tan is not a mere rarity ù it is a sensational media event....