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2011 Annual Report Financial Supplements - BDO

2011 Annual Report Financial Supplements - BDO

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PEACe BondsOn October 18, 2001, the Bureau of Treasury (BTr), through an auction, offeredten-year zero coupon treasury bonds, called the Poverty Eradication and AlleviationCertificates Bonds (PEACe Bonds), to Government Securities Eligible Dealers.Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) won the bid in the same year and wasawarded approximately P35,000 worth of government bonds. The PEACe Bonds weresubsequently purchased by investors, including the <strong>BDO</strong> Unibank, who relied in good faithon representations that the same are not subject to 20% Final Withholding Tax (20% FWT).On July 16, 2004, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue ruled that the mere issuance ofgovernment debt instruments and securities is deemed as falling within the coverage ofdeposit substitute irrespective of the number of lenders at the time of origination.Accordingly, government debt instruments and securities are not exempt from taxes.On October 7, <strong>2011</strong>, or nearly ten years after the auction, the Commissioner of InternalRevenue, upon the request of the Secretary of Finance, issued a ruling stating that the PEACeBonds are not exempt from the 20% FWT.October 16, <strong>2011</strong>, Eight Banks that purchased the PEACe Bonds filed a case in the SupremeCourt to enjoin the BTr and BIR from withholding or collecting the 20% final withholdingtax, upon payment at maturity, as well as from enforcing the <strong>2011</strong> ruling.On October 17, <strong>2011</strong>, the BIR issued a second ruling stating that the 20% FWT should beimposed upon all subsequent holders of the PEACe Bonds.On October 18, <strong>2011</strong>, the Supreme Court unanimously resolved, and issued a TemporaryRestraining Order (TRO) which enjoined the government from implementing <strong>2011</strong> rulingsthat the Peace Bonds were subject to 20% final withholding tax. The Supreme Courtinstructed that the disputed amount should be placed in escrow by the petitioning banks.On October 27, <strong>2011</strong>, RCBC and RCBC Capital, as the original purchasers of the PEACeBonds filed a Motion for Leave of Court to Intervene, which was granted by the SupremeCourt on November 15, <strong>2011</strong>On November 15, <strong>2011</strong>, the Supreme Court required the Government to show cause whythey failed to comply with the October 18, <strong>2011</strong> TRO and, required them to comply with saidTRO within 10 days from notice, which would cause the return of the funds to the petitioningbanks, for the latter to place in escrow.The Government has requested additional time within which to file their Comment on thePetitions-in-intervention.Management believes that the petitioning banks have a strong case, and that the probability ofrecovery is high.www.bdo.com.ph 145

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