Posted by geemiz | Posted in Geemiz Thoughts | Posted on 29-11-2013
Tags: Philippine Government, Tax Law
Since Manny Pacquiao have returned home after winning the fight against Brandon Rios in Macau, the news both online and offline was all about the freezing of the bank accounts of the Pambansang Kamao. Many have opposed against the move of the BIR and people showed disgust to Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares
The most viral post of disapproval was made by journalist Ira Panganiban. He wrote an open letter addressed to the BIR commissioner.
Here’s the full letter:
Dear Kim Henares,
I do not doubt your sincerity to collect taxes from every Filipino, living or dead.
I do not even doubt your integrity in making sure that you are able to collect the proper taxes from everyone.
I am however questioning your motives and arbitrary choice in the personalities you choose to prosecute.
I am going to cite one particular person who has been on the BIR’s radar as a perennial tax evader for the last 20-years with cases going in and out of court.
His name is Lucio Tan and he owes the country more than 5-billion pesos in tax liabilities decided on numerous times by the Supreme Court as executory and final and yet no garnishment order was ever made until his petition reaches the SC, who would then reverse their decisions time and again.
Lucio Tan was never known for his philanthropy or good business practices. He authored the contractualization of PAL and Asia Brewery employees which was not only detrimental to Filipino Labor but also to taxes that could be collected from these workers had they been regular employees.
Lucio Tan is also accused of ill-gotten wealth from his Marcos days, and yet he continues to enjoy his money.
Congressman Manny Pacquiao’s case is not even at the High Court and his earnings have already been garnished.
You have been given certified true copies of Pacman’s tax payments in the US and yet you refuse to recognize this and insist on originals which I believe, but I may be mistaken, even US citizens have no access to.
And to think that Pacquiao earned his money through honest, literally blood, sweat and tears. And he is one of about ten persons who insist in keeping his money in the Philippines because he is a patriot.
He could have stashed it somewhere you cannot reach if he had things to hide, but he kept it here, so our economy can make use of it.
You cannot even freeze the money of politicians involved in the PDAF scam but you can do this to an ordinary man who managed to rise above all of you through hard work, guts, integrity and the work of his own hands.
And that is why your integrity is rapidly being eroded, because you don’t seem to think anymore. You just grab the first victim that cannot fight you.
Because even if Pacquiao is a Congressman, he is not connected to the old boys club and so does not have the clout of the Tan’s, Sy’s, Dy’s and others.
Oh, and Lucio Tan did give over 100 million to Noynoy’s election kitty while Pacquiao was with the opposition.
I guess we know now the motivations don’t we?
Yours disgustedly,
Your Boss’s Boss
My Say
Very well said Mr. Panganiban and I feel you.
It is not only Pacquiao who has tax evasion case in the country and there is a big difference between them and Pacquiao. To top that reason is Pacquiao has been giving honor to our country ever since he has gone in to boxing.
I am not againts imposing tax to Pacquiao (kidding, I hate tax knowing the corrupt officials we have now) what I am not in favor of is the harrasment that the BIR or the Philippine government as a whole is giving to one of Philippines living HERO and INSPIRATION.
The government has not given Pacquiao even a single centavo in his boxing carrier (Read my article Tracing the Filipino Money) and he excelled in the sport. He has given the Philippines more than a name but a legacy. Why? because the Philippines is the only country who has a boxer that has not just 7 but 8 Boxing World Title and that is Manny Pacquiao.
All of us will perish in this world but the legacy Manny Pacquiao has given to our country will be remembered forever.
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