Malacañang is not seeking revenge against Senator Manny Pacquiao when President Duterte recently mentioned his P2.2-billion tax evasion case in their raging rift.
According to Presidential spokesman Harry Roque, the President merely pointed out that Pacquiao must "walk the talk" when it comes to fighting corruption. Roque argued that tax evasion was considered a form of corruption.
"Hindi po yan resbak. Matagal na kaso na niya yan sa BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) (That's not revenge. That's an old case before the BIR)," Roque said during a televised press briefing Thursday, July 8, when asked if the tax issue was the start of the government's retaliation against the senator.
"Kaya nga sinasabi ni Presidente, akala ko ba ikaw ay anti-corruption. You have to walk to talk. if you are against corruption, bakit ikaw mismo eh hindi nagbabayad ng buwis, which is really a form of corruption dahil ikaw ay at the same time a public officer (That's why the President said, 'I thought you're anti-corruption. You have to walk the talk. If you are against corruption, so why are you not paying taxes, which is really a form of corruption because you are at the same time a public officer)," he said.
READ: Duterte raises tax evasion complaint vs Pacquiao: ‘When you cheat gov’t, you’re a corrupt official’
The President earlier took a swipe at Pacquiao for alleging corruption worsened in government but the boxer supposedly had unpaid taxes.
Duterte, in his remarks at the meeting with ruling party officials Tuesday night, admitted he would try to find about Pacquiao's tax case, admitting he was unsure if it was still pending in court.
Nonetheless, Duterte slammed Pacquiao for alleging corruption in government when the senator was supposedly facing tax evasion complaints. "When you cheat government, you are a corrupt official," the President said in a latest rift with Pacquiao.
In 2018, the Court of Tax Appeals stopped the BIR from collecting P3 billion in tax deficiency for 2008 and 2009 from Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee for lack of merit.