At bar is a Petition for Review under Rule 45 seeking to set aside the decision of the Court of Appeals1 [Dated February 23, 1993. Sixteenth Division, Guingona, Serafin V.C., ponente, JJ Chua, Segundino G. and Galvez, Ricardo P. concurring.] affirming the Order of dismissal by the Trial Court2 [Order promulgated June 27,1991, penned by Judge Tomas V. Tadeo, Jr., Branch 105 of RTC, Quezon City.] of Quezon City in the case, entitled "Republic of the Philippines vs. Precision Printing, Inc.", on the ground of extinguishment of tax liability as Precision Printing, Inc., had availed of tax amnesty under Executive Order Nos. 54 and 64.

On June 10, 1985, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) issued an assessment notice and letter against Precision Printing, Inc., demanding payment of the sum of P248,406.11. Despite repeated demands, however, the latter failed to pay within the period prescribed by law. Consequently, the said tax assessment became final and demandable.

On October 31, 1986, it turned out that Printing Precision, Inc. filed a Tax Amnesty Return together with the Statements of Net Worth as of December 31, 1985 and December 31, 1980 and other supporting documents under File No. 00696 and its Amended Tax Return filed on December 21, 1986.3 [Rollo, page 44.]

The said amnesty return was fired pursuant to Executive Order No. 41, as amended by Executive Order Nos. 54 and 64 respectively, dated August 26, 1986, November 4, 1986, and November 17, 1986.

On June 9, 1990, BIR brought before Branch CV of the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, a Complaint against Precision Printing, Inc. for the collection of the amount of P248,406.11 as deficiency income tax for 1981 inclusive of interest.

The defendant, Precision Printing, Inc., put up the affirmative defense that it is not liable for such tax deficiencies because it availed of tax amnesty under Executive Order No. 41, as amended by Executive Order Nos. 54 and 64.

On June 27, 1991, after a preliminary hearing on the aforestated affirmative defense, Presiding Judge Tomas V. Tadeo of Branch 105 of Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, issued an Order of dismissal, ratiocinating thus:

The aforesaid Order was seasonably appealed to the Court of Appeals but to no avail. On February 23, 1993, the Court of Appeals promulgated its Decision affirming the appealed Order of Dismissal.

Dissatisfied therewith, the Republic of the Philippines has come to this Court via the present Petition for Review under Rule 45 of the Revised Rules of Court; posing for resolution the sole issue:

Petitioner anchors its submission on the fact that the respondent corporation was already assessed of its tax deficiency prior to the promulgation of Revenue Memorandum 4-87 which implemented E.O. 41. The tax assessment letter was received by respondent corporation on June 10, 1985 while the said Revenue Memorandum 4-87 explicitly refers only to assessments made after August 21, 1986.

The issue raised by petitioner is not a novel one. It was settled in the case of Commissioner of Internal Revenue vs. Court of Appeals, 240 SCRA 368, wherein the issues raised for resolution were similar to the theories and issues here.

Executive Order No. 41 (E.O. 41) declaring a tax amnesty on unpaid income taxes was promulgated on August 22, 1986. It was later amended to include estate and donor's taxes and taxes on business, for the taxable years 1981-1985. Thereafter, Revenue Memorandum 4-87 (R.O. 4-87) issued to implement the law.

However, R.O. 4-87 as the following provisions:

It is therefore decisively clear that R.O. 4-87 reckoned the applicability of the tax amnesty from August 22, 1986 - the date when E.O. 41 took effect. However, Executive Order No. 41 contained no limitation whatsoever delimiting its applicability to assessments made prior to its effectivity. Rather, the said E.O. 41 merely provided for a general statement covering all tax liabilities incurred from 1981-1985.

Thus, as to whether assessments made prior to August 21, 1986 are still covered by Executive Order No. 41 the Court had this to say:

The above ruling is in consonance with the tenet in administrative law that administrative issuances seeking to carry into effect an act of Congress must be in harmony with the provisions of the law, it cannot modify nor supplant the same.6 [Land Bank of the Philippines vs Court of Appeals, 249 SCRA 149; Cebu Oxygen & Acetylene Co., Inc. vs Drilon, 176 SCRA 24.]

WHEREFORE, the decision of the court of Appeals dated February 23, 1993 in CA-G.R. CV No. 34003 is hereby AFFIRMED without any pronouncement as to costs.

Melo, (Chairman), Vitug, Panganiban, and Gonzaga-Reyes, JJ., concur.