Court of Tax Appeals denies ordering freeze on Pacquiao assets

Manny Pacquiao AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Court of Tax Appeals denied reports that it has issued a freeze order over the P2.2-billion assets of boxing champion Manny Pacquiao.

“There is no freeze order,” CTA first division Clerk of Court Margaret Guzman said.

The CTA first division is handling Pacquiao’s tax evasion case. It is also handling the motion filed by the boxing champion to suspend the warrant of distraint and/or levy issued by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)

Under the Tax Code, a warrant of distraint and/or levy (WDL) is issued to enforce collection of the assessment of tax liability of a taxpayer.

Lawyer Claro Ortiz, chief of the BIR enforcement and advocacy service, said the WDL was issued last July but Pacquiao’s camp filed a motion to suspend before the CTA.

Ortiz, in a text message, said they started enforcing the WDL but with an existing agreement with the Pacquiao camp, they have not pushed through with its enforcement.

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