Ungab vs. Cusi, Jr.

SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 097 26/08/2019, 1*52 PM
*
Nos. L-41919-24. May 30, 1980.
QUIRICO P. UNGAB, petitioner, vs. HON. VICENTE N.

CUSI, JR., in his capacity as Judge of the Court of First
Instance, Branch 1, 16TH Judicial District, Davao City,
THE COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, and
JESUS N. ACEBES, in his capacity as State Prosecutor,
respondents.
Criminal Procedure; Taxation; National Internal Revenue Code;

Preliminary investigation; Authority of State Prosecutor to
investigate and prosecute violations of the National Internal
Revenue Code independently of the City Fiscal; Case at bar.·The
respondent State Prosecutor, although believing that he can proceed
independently of the City Fiscal in the investigation and
prosecution of these cases, first sought permission from the City
Fiscal of Davao City before he started the preliminary investigation
of these cases, and the City Fiscal, after being shown
Administrative Order No. 116, dated December 5, 1974, designating
the said State Prosecutor to assist all Provincial and City fiscals
throughout the Philippines in the investigation and prosecution of
all violations of the National In-
_______________
* SECOND DIVISION
878
878 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
Ungab vs. Cusi, Jr.
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/0000016ccc76ed0667883dd5003600fb002c009e/p/APR672/?username=Guest Page 1 of 12
ternal Revenue Code, as amended, and other related laws,

graciously allowed the respondent State Prosecutor to conduct the
investigation of said cases, and in fact, said investigation was
conducted in the office of the City Fiscal.
Same; Same; Same; Jurisdiction of the Court of First Instance
over criminal prosecution for violations of the National Internal
Revenue Code; Computation and assessment of deficiency taxes is
not a pre-requisite for criminal prosecution under the Code.·What
is involved here is not the collection of taxes where the assessment
of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue may be reviewed by the
Court of Tax Appeals, but a criminal prosecution for violations of
the National Internal Revenue Code which is within the
recognizance of Courts of First Instance. While there can be no civil
action to enforce collection before the assessment procedures
provided in the Code have been followed, there is no requirement
for the precise computation and assessment of the tax before there
can be a criminal prosecution under the Code.
Same; Same; Same; Prescription; Petition for reconsideration of
assessment of deficiency taxes suspends the prescriptive period for
the collection of taxes, not the prescriptive period of a criminal action
for violation of law.·Besides, it has been ruled that a petition for
reconsideration of an assessment may affect the suspension of the
prescriptive period for the collection of taxes, but not the
prescriptive period of a criminal action for violation of law.
Obviously, the protest of the petitioner against the assessment of
the District Revenue Officer cannot stop his prosecution for
violation of the National Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, the
respondent Judge did not abuse his discretion in denying the
motion to quash filed by the petitioner.
CONCEPCION JR., J.:
Petition for certiorari and prohibition with preliminary

injunction and restraining order to annul and set aside the
informations filed in Criminal Case Nos. 1960, 1961, 1962,
1963, 1964, and 1965 of the Court of First Instance of
Davao, all entitled: „People of the Philippines, plaintiff,
versus Quirico Ungab, accused;‰ and to restrain the
respondent Judge from further proceeding with the hearing
and trial of the said cases.
879
VOL. 97, MAY 30, 1980 879

Ungab vs. Cusi, Jr.
It is not disputed that sometime in July, 1974, BIR

Examiner Ben Garcia examined the income tax returns
filed by the herein petitioner, Quirico P. Ungab, for the
calendar year ending December 31, 1973. In the course of
his examination, he discovered that the petitioner failed to
report his income derived from sales of banana saplings. As
a result, the BIR District Revenue Officer at Davao City
sent a „Notice of Taxpayer‰ to the petitioner informing him
that there is due from him (petitioner) the amount of
P104,980.81, representing income, business tax and forest
charges for the year 1973 and inviting petitioner to an
informal conference where the petitioner, duly assisted by
counsel, may present
1
his objections to the findings of the
BIR Examiner. Upon receipt of the notice, the petitioner
wrote the BIR District Revenue Officer protesting the
assessment, claiming that he was only a dealer or agent on
commission basis in the banana sapling business and that
his income, as reported in his income tax returns for the
said year, was accurately stated. BIR Examiner Ben
Garcia, however, was fully convinced that the petitioner
had filed a fraudulent income tax return so that he
submitted a „Fraud Referral Report,‰ to the Tax Fraud
Unit of the Bureau of Internal Revenue. After examining
the records of the case, the Special Investigation Division of
the Bureau of Internal Revenue found sufficient proof that
the herein petitioner is guilty of tax evasion for the taxable
year 1973 and recommended his prosecution:
(1) For having filed a false or fraudulent income tax

return for 1973 with intent to evade his just taxes
due the government under Section 45 in relation to
Section 72 of the National Internal Revenue Code;
(2) For failure to pay a fixed annual tax of P50.00 a
year in 1973 and 1974, or a total of unpaid fixed
taxes of P100.00 plus penalties of P75.00 or a total
of P175.00, in accordance with Section 183 of the
National Internal Revenue Code;
(3) For failure to pay the 7% percentage tax, as a
producer of banana poles or saplings, on the total
sales of P129,580.35 to the
______________
1 Rollo, p. 134.
880

Ungab vs. Cusi, Jr.
Davao Fruit Corporation, depriving thereby the

government of its due revenue in 2
the amount of
P15,872.59, inclusive of surcharge.
In a second indorsement to the Chief of the Prosecution

Division, dated December 12, 1974, the Commissioner of
Internal 3Revenue approved the prosecution of the
petitioner.
Thereafter, State Prosecutor Jesus Acebes, who had
been designated to assist all Provincial and City Fiscals
throughout the Philippines in the investigation and
prosecution, if the evidence warrants, of all violations of
the National Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and
other related laws, in Administrative Order No. 116 dated
December 5, 1974, and to whom the case was assigned,
conducted a preliminary investigation of the case, and
finding probable cause, filed six (6) informations against
the petitioner with the Court of First Instance of Davao
City, to wit:
(1) Criminal Case No. 1960·Violation of Sec. 45, in

relation to Sec. 72 of the National Internal Revenue
Code, for filing a fraudulent income tax return
4
for
the calendar year ending December 31, 1973;
(2) Criminal Case No. 1961·Violation of Sec. 182 (a),
in relation to Secs. 178, 186, and 208 of the
National Internal Revenue Code, for engaging in
business as producer of saplings, from January,
1973 to December, 1973, without first 5
paying the
annual fixed or privilege tax thereof;

in relation to Secs. 186 and 209 of the National
Internal Revenue Code, for failure to render a true
and complete return on the gross quarterly sales,
receipts and earnings in his business as producer of
banana saplings and to pay the percentage tax due6
thereon, for the quarter ending December 31, 1973;
Internal Revenue Code, for
_______________
2 Id., pp. 136; 140.

3 Id., p. 141.
4 Id., p. 11.
5 Id., p. 13
6 Id., p. 15
881
VOL. 97, MAY 30, 1980 881

Ungab vs. Cusi, Jr.
failure to render a true and complete return on the

gross quarterly sales receipts and earnings in his
business as producer of saplings, and to pay the
percentage tax due7 thereon, for the quarter ending
on March 31, 1973;
receipts and earnings in his business as producer of
banana saplings for the quarter ending on June 830,
1973, and to pay the percentage tax due thereon;
(6) Criminal Case No. 1965·Violation of Sec. 183
(a), in relation to Secs. 186 and 209 of the National
receipts and earnings as producer of banana
saplings, for the quarter ending on September 930,

1973, and to pay the percentage tax due thereon.
On September 16, 1975, the petitioner filed a motion to

quash the informations upon the grounds that: (1) the
informations are null and void for want of authority on the
part of the State Prosecutor to initiate and prosecute the
said cases; and (2) the trial court has no jurisdiction to take
cognizance of the above-entitled cases in view of his
pending protest
10
against the assessment made by the BIR
Examiner. However, 11
the trial court denied the motion on
October 22, 1975. Whereupon, the petitioner filed the
instant recourse. As prayed for, a temporary restraining
order was issued by the Court, ordering the respondent
Judge from further proceeding with the trial and hearing of
Criminal Case Nos. 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, and 1965
of the Court of First Instance of Davao, all entitled: „People
of the Philippines, plaintiff, versus Quirico Ungab,
accused.‰
The petitioner seeks the annulment of the informations
filed against him on the ground that the respondent State
Pro-
_______________
7 Id., p. 17.
8 Id., p. 19.
9 Id., p. 21.
10 Id., p. 23.
11 Id., p. 40.
882

Ungab vs. Cusi, Jr.
secutor is allegedly without authority to do so. The

petitioner argues that while the respondent State
Prosecutor may initiate the investigation of and prosecute
crimes and violations of penal laws when duly authorized,
certain requisites, enumerated by this12 Court in its decision
in the case of Estrella vs. Orendain, should be observed
before such authority may be exercised; otherwise, the

provisions of the Charter of Davao City on the functions
and powers of the City Fiscal will be meaningless because
according to said charter he has charge of the prosecution
of all crimes committed within his jurisdiction; and since
„appropriate circumstances are not extant to warrant the
intervention of the State Prosecution to initiate the
investigation, sign the informations and prosecute these
cases, said informations are null and void.‰ The ruling
adverted to by the petitioner reads, as follows:
„In view of all the foregoing considerations, it is the ruling of this

Court that under Sections 1679 and 1686 of the Revised
Administrative Code, in any instance where a provincial or city
fiscal fails, refuses or is unable, for any reason, to investigate or
prosecute a case and, in the opinion of the Secretary of Justice it is
advisable in the public interest to take a different course of action,
the Secretary of Justice may either appoint as acting provincial or
city fiscal, to handle the investigation or prosecution exclusively
and only of such case, any practicing attorney or some competent
officer of the Department of Justice or office of any city or provincial
fiscal, with complete authority to act therein in all respects as if he
were the provincial or city fiscal himself, or appoint any lawyer in
the government service, temporarily to assist such city of provincial
fiscal in the discharge of his duties, with the same complete
authority to act independently of and for such city or provincial
fiscal, provided that no such appointment may be made without
first hearing the fiscal concerned and never after the corresponding
information has already been filed with the court by the
corresponding city or provincial fiscal without the conformity of the
latter, except when it can be patently shown to the court having
cognizance of the case that said fiscal is intent on prejudicing the
interests of justice. The same sphere of authority is true with the
prosecutor directed and authorized under
______________
12 G.R. No. L-19811, February 27, 1971; 37 SCRA 640.
883
VOL. 97, MAY 30, 1980 883

Ungab vs. Cusi, Jr.
Section 3 of Republic Act 3783, as amended and/or inserted by

Republic Act 5184. The observation in Salcedo vs. Liwag, supra,
regarding the nature of the power of the Secretary of Justice over
fiscals as being purely over administrative matters only was not
really necessary, as indicated in the above relation of the facts and
discussion of the legal issues of said case, for the resolution thereof.
In any event, to any extent that the opinion therein may be
inconsistent herewith, the same is hereby modified.‰
The contention is without merit. Contrary to the

petitionerÊs claim, the rule therein established had not
been violated. The respondent State Prosecutor, although
believing that he can proceed independently of the City
Fiscal in the investigation and prosecution of these cases,
first sought permission from the City Fiscal of Davao City
before he started the preliminary investigation of these
cases, and the City Fiscal, after being shown
Administrative Order No. 116, dated December 5, 1974,
designating the said State Prosecutor to assist all
Provincial and City fiscals throughout the Philippines in
the investigation and prosecution of all violations of the
National Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and other
related laws, graciously allowed the respondent State
Prosecutor to conduct the investigation of said cases, and in
fact, said investigation
13
was conducted in the office of the
City Fiscal.
The petitioner also claims that the filing of the
informations was precipitate and premature since the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue has not yet resolved his
protests against the assessment of the Revenue District
Officer; and that he was denied recourse to the Court of
Tax Appeals.
The contention is without merit. What is involved here
is not the collection of taxes where the assessment of the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue may be reviewed by the
Court of Tax Appeals, but a criminal prosecution for
violations of the National Internal Revenue Code which is
within the cognizance of courts of first instance. While
there can be no civil action to enforce collection before the
assessment procedures provided in the Code have been
followed, there is no re-
_____________
13 Rollo, p. 35.
884

Ungab vs. Cusi, Jr.
quirement for the precise computation and assessment of

the tax before there can be a criminal prosecution under
the Code.
„The contention is made, and is here rejected, that an assessment of

the deficiency tax due is necessary before the taxpayer can be
prosecuted criminally for the charges preferred. The crime is
complete when the violator has, as in this case, knowingly and
willfully filed fraudulent returns with intent to evade and defeat a
14
part or all of the tax.‰
„An assessment of a deficiency is not necessary to a criminal
prosecution for willful attempt to defeat and evade the income tax.
A crime is complete when the violator has knowingly and willfully
filed a fraudulent return with intent to evade and defeat the tax.
The perpetration of the crime is grounded upon knowledge on the
part of the taxpayer that he has made an inaccurate return, and the
governmentÊs failure to discover the error and promptly to assess
15
has no connections with the commission of the crime.‰
Besides, it has been ruled that a petition for

reconsideration of an assessment may affect the suspension
of the prescriptive period for the collection of taxes, but not
the 16
prescriptive period of a criminal action for violation of
law. Obviously, the protest of the petitioner against the
assessment of the District Revenue Officer cannot stop his
prosecution for violation of the National Internal Revenue
Code. Accordingly, the respondent Judge did not abuse his
discretion in denying the motion to quash filed by the
petitioner.
WHEREFORE, the petition should be, as it is hereby
dismissed. The temporary restraining order heretofore
issued is hereby set aside. With costs against the petitioner.
SO ORDERED.
Barredo (Chairman), Aquino, Abad Santos and De

Castro, JJ., concur.
________________
14 Guzik vs. U.S., 54 F2d 618.

15 MertenÊs Law of Federal Income Taxation, Vol. 10, Sec. 55A.05, p.
21.
16 People vs. Ching Lak alias Ang You Chu, L-10609, May 23, 1958.
* Mr. Justice Pacifico P. de Castro, a member of the First Division, was
designated to sit in the Second Division.
885
VOL. 97, MAY 30, 1980 885

Ungab vs. Cusi, Jr.
Petition denied.
Notes.·As a rule, any claim for exemption from tax is

strictly construed against the taxpayer. However, where
the law is clear and unambiguous, the law must be taken
as it is devoid of judicial addition or substraction. Thus, the
term „insulating oil‰ includes the term „insulator‰ and
qualifies the MERALCO for exemption from the tax on
importation of insulators as expressly provided for in its
franchise. (Acgt. CommÊr. of Customs vs. MERALCO, 77
SCRA 469).
The Supreme Court is bound by the findings of facts of
the Court of Appeals. (Ibid).
An heir is not solidarity liable for the payment of the
inheritance tax due from a co-heir. (Vera vs. Navarro, 79
SCRA 408).
Internal revenue taxes cannot be the subject of
compensation or set-off because the government and the
taxpayer are not mutually creditors and debtors of each
other. (Cordero vs. Gonda, 18 SCRA 331).
A tax refund partakes of the nature of an exemption and
thus cannot be allowed unless granted by law in the most
explicit and categorical language. (Resins, Inc. vs. Auditor
General, 25 SCRA 754).
The 30-day period fixed by R.A. 1125 within which the
taxpayer may question any ruling of the Commissioner of

Internal Revenue before the Court of Tax Appeals is
jurisdictional. (Actg. CommÊr. of Internal Revenue vs.
Joseph, 5 SCRA 895).
The City may appeal from a decision of the City Board of
Assessment Appeals in the matter of grant of exemption
from real property tax in favor of taxpayer. (Mun. Board of
Cebu City vs. Court of Tax Appeals, 12 SCRA 645).
Assessment made beyond five-year prescription period
no longer binding on tax payer. (Commissioner of Internal
Revenue vs. Ayala Securities Corporation, 70 SCRA 214).
Fraud is a question of fact and the circumstances
constituting fraud must be alleged and proved in the court
below. The finding of the trial court as to its existence and
non-
886

Ungab vs. Cusi, Jr.
existence is final and cannot be reviewed here unless

clearly shown to be erroneous. Fraud is never lightly to be
presumed because it is a serious charge. (Commissioner of
Internal Revenue vs. Ayala Securities Corporation, 70 SCRA
214).
The Court of Tax Appeals has exclusive jurisdiction on
matters involving internal revenue and customs duties.
(Secretary of Finance vs. Agana, 62 SCRA 68).
Court of Tax Appeals may take cognizance of issue on
interest not raised before the Commissioner of Internal
Revenue where the latter himself presented it to Tax Court
for resolution. (Commissioner of Internal Revenue vs. Cu
Unjieng, 66 SCRA 1).
Findings of fact of Court of Tax Appeals are conclusive
upon the Supreme Court. (Commissioner of Internal
Revenue vs. P.J. Kiener Co., Ltd., 65 SCRA 142).
··o0o··
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SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 097 26/08/2019, 1*52 PM

QUIRICO P. UNGAB, petitioner, vs. HON. VICENTE N.

Criminal Procedure; Taxation; National Internal Revenue Code;

878 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Ungab vs. Cusi, Jr.

ternal Revenue Code, as amended, and other related laws,

CONCEPCION JR., J.:

Petition for certiorari and prohibition with preliminary

VOL. 97, MAY 30, 1980 879

It is not disputed that sometime in July, 1974, BIR

(1) For having filed a false or fraudulent income tax

sales of P129,580.35 to the

880 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Davao Fruit Corporation, depriving thereby the

In a second indorsement to the Chief of the Prosecution

(1) Criminal Case No. 1960·Violation of Sec. 45, in

(3) Criminal Case No. 1962·Violation of Sec. 183 (a),

2 Id., pp. 136; 140.

VOL. 97, MAY 30, 1980 881

failure to render a true and complete return on the

saplings, for the quarter ending on September 930,

On September 16, 1975, the petitioner filed a motion to

882 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

secutor is allegedly without authority to do so. The

before such authority may be exercised; otherwise, the

„In view of all the foregoing considerations, it is the ruling of this

12 G.R. No. L-19811, February 27, 1971; 37 SCRA 640.

VOL. 97, MAY 30, 1980 883

Section 3 of Republic Act 3783, as amended and/or inserted by

The contention is without merit. Contrary to the

884 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

quirement for the precise computation and assessment of

„The contention is made, and is here rejected, that an assessment of

Besides, it has been ruled that a petition for

Barredo (Chairman), Aquino, Abad Santos and De

14 Guzik vs. U.S., 54 F2d 618.

VOL. 97, MAY 30, 1980 885

Notes.·As a rule, any claim for exemption from tax is

taxpayer may question any ruling of the Commissioner of

886 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

existence is final and cannot be reviewed here unless

© Copyright 2019 Central Book Supply, Inc. All rights reserved.

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