Widus International Leisure Inc, owner and proprietor of Widus Hotel and Casino, finds the allegations circulating in traditional and social media regarding its employment and tax practices to be malicious, baseless and utterly false.
The allegation that Widus is underpaying its Filipino employees where the Department of Labor and Employment and other agencies are being called upon to conduct investigations is absolutely false. Widus compensates all its employees at par or beyond the standards within the same industry and market. In fact, the Department of Labor and Employment,in its regular conduct of audit and inspection, has not found any cases of underpayment or unfair labor practices at the hotel and resort complex.
Likewise, Widus finds as absolutely baseless, false and even absurd the other allegation that Widus does not remit to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) the 20% withholding tax of winnings by its guests.
Widus has strictly implemented since the start of its casino operations in 2009 the withholding of 20% final withholding tax on all winnings, cash or non-cash, in accordance with Section 24(B)(1) of the National Internal Revenue Code. The proofs of remittances of Widus to the BIR clearly support full and timely remittances of taxes. All BIR Forms 2307 as proof of tax remittance on winnings are readily available. As well, all marketing collaterals for guests clearly set out that winnings are subject to 20% withholding tax in accordance with the law.
Having said the foregoing, Widus reiterates that the malicious allegations regarding its business practices are unfounded, baseless, and utterly false. Widus reserves all available legal remedies, civil and criminal, against erring individuals who persist in spreading such lies and malicious imputations.
