In the midst of Richard Gutierrez’s tax evasion issue, his girlfriend Sarah Lahbati remains positive that the former will settle it.
“I don’t know anything about the issue. Honestly, if that’s the case, I know that he will settle it. We’ve been busy. We’ve been travelling. I know that he will settle it soon. Maybe you should ask him because that’s not my issue,” she said on her interview with the reporters.
Sarah assured that their whole family will be behind Richard in dealing with this ordeal.
“I’ll always be there for him no matter what issue he goes through. I don’t think this is something to worry about especially dito sa Pilipinas, laging pinapalaki yung issue when wala namang issue. I know that he will settle this soon,” she added.
On April 21, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said it filed a P38.57-million tax complaint against Richard and his production company, R Gutz.
The 33-year-old allegedly underdeclared P39.6 million in sales in 2012. Also, according to BIR’s statement, his company also failed to file an annual income tax return and two quarterly value added tax returns during the same year.
Annabelle Rama, Richard’s mom defended the actor and said that the tax case is a total “harassment.” Annabelle said her son could prove that he filed tax returns properly.
Meanwhile, the family’s lawyer, Attorney Marie Glen Abraham-Garduque, said Richard has yet to receive a copy of the BIR complaint.
“[Richard Gutierrez] will answer at the proper forum as soon as he receives it,” she said.
