Pacquiao finds ally in Senate in tax battle with BIR
Manny Pacquiao. AFP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has found an ally in the Senate in his fight over a P2.2-billion tax delinquency case that one senator even lambasted some officials for their “callousness.”
“It could have been done in a better way considering he is a pride of the country. Pwede namang singilin nang hindi ganyan kalupit,” opposition Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said in a text message to reporters on Wednesday.
“It shows the callousness and non-compassion of some of our officials,” Sotto said.
Neophyte Senator Grace Poe, an administration ally, also found it “unfortunate” that the garnishment issue on some of Pacquiao’s bank account came just after his recent victory against Brandon Rios.
“It is just unfortunate that this garnishment issue came out right after Manny has just made the Filipinos proud with his impressive win against Rios,” Poe said in a separate text message.
“Without passing judgment on the merits of the tax case, I urge Manny and the BIR (Bureau of Investigation) to discuss this matter to find ways on how to legally settle the same,” she added.
Senators Juan Edgardo Angara and Francis “Chiz” Escudero urged both Pacquiao and BIR to discuss and resolve amicably the issue.
“On the tax case against my former colleague Rep. Pacquiao, I really hope that both camps — the BIR and that of Manny – would come up with a structure that can be considered a win-win solution for the parties,” Angara, chairman of the Senate committees on ways and means; and games, amusement and sports, said in a statement.
“We do not want to blow this out of proportion and allow the international media to further exacerbate it. Pacquiao is without question a national treasure and a hero. For the good of the nation, may this controversy be immediately resolved amicably,” he added.
Escudero, for his part, urged Pacquiao to just submit the documents being requested by the BIR “to resolve and clarify the issue.”
“I have no reason to doubt that he paid the correct taxes so there should be no problem proving/showing it to the BIR,” said the senator.
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