Henares tells Pacquiao not to think of her in the ring

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao. INQUIRER AND AP FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines—Bureau of Internal Revenue chief Kim Henares  wished boxer Manny Pacquiao luck in his fight Sunday with American Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas, saying the last thing the people’s champ should think was her.

Henares made the wish as she explained to the media her recent statement that Pacquiao should make sure he reports his earnings from the fight in the United States in his 2014 income tax returns.

“I recognize that he has a fight this Sunday and maybe he should not think of me,” Henares said at a news briefing at the Department of Justice where she filed tax evasion cases.

She said Pacquiao should concentrate on his fight and she expressed the hope he would win his rematch with Bradley, who snatched his World Boxing Organization welterweight crown in June 2012.

Henares, apparently addressing Top Rank chief Bob Arum, made it clear she did not say that she was going after Pacquiao for this fight with Bradley.

The BIR chief said she hoped Pacquiao has learned from his experience when her agency went after him last year for more than P2 billion in taxes for his earnings from 2008 to 2009.

RELATED STORIES

Pacquiao, Henares in shootfest

Henares: BIR firm on pursuing Pacquiao over alleged unpaid tax

BIR: Pacquiao misdeclared ’09 income