Cebu tax settlement sparks fierce debate over P1-billion cut for ALQC
A heated debate unfolded during a Cebu Provincial Board hearing on March 12, 2026, over a proposed tax settlement. The agreement would slash a P1.218-billion assessment against Apo Land and Quarry Corp. (ALQC) to just P211.56 million. Vice Gov. Glenn Anthony Soco raised concerns about the deal's potential impact on the province's tax enforcement policies.
The joint session, led by the committees on laws and ways and means, drew sharp exchanges between officials. Soco stressed the need for careful review, warning that blind approval could undermine future tax collections.
The original tax demand against ALQC stood at P1.2 billion before the proposed settlement. Legal precedents, including a 2018 Supreme Court ruling on tax amnesty reductions and a 2022 Provincial Board resolution on quarry tax disputes, support negotiated settlements based on fiscal capacity and past concessions.
During the hearing, Board Member Raymond Calderon pushed to livestream the proceedings. However, a representative from the Office of the Governor opposed the idea. Tensions had already been high after Gov. Pamela Baricuatro publicly criticised Soco's position on the compromise. Soco clarified that his past involvement in a similar case did not set a fixed settlement figure, unlike the current ALQC proposal. He insisted the review was a collective decision by the 20-member Provincial Board, adding that he would only vote in case of a tie. Despite disagreements, he reaffirmed his commitment to working with the governor for Cebu's benefit. The vice governor urged officials to focus on institutional processes rather than personalities. He argued that rushing the decision could weaken the province's ability to collect taxes fairly in the future.
The hearing ended without a final decision on the P211.56-million compromise. The outcome will determine whether Cebu Province reduces its tax claim against ALQC by nearly P1 billion. Any resolution will also set a precedent for how the board handles future tax disputes and settlements.
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