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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'I don't care about them': Duterte says Pharmally execs should be jailed if they don't pay taxes

'I don't care about them': Duterte says Pharmally execs should be jailed if they don't pay taxes

Published Nov 10, 2021 08:26 am

Read his lips.

Officials of the beleaguered Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation should pay the proper taxes or else go to prison for tax evasion, President Duterte said on Tuesday, Nov. 9.

President Rodrigo Duterte speaks during his “Talk to the People” public briefing on November 9, 2021. (Malacañang photo)

The Chief Executive gave the warning during his weekly pre-recorded public address, where he reiterated that he “does not care” about Pharmally.

“For all we care, those persons there na hindi nagbayad (who does not pay taxes), na (that’s) tax evasion, they can all go to prison. Problema nila 'yan (That is their problem),” Duterte said.

“Wala tayong pakialam sa iba. Iyong sabi nilang Pharmally hindi bumabayad, ay ikulong ninyo ‘yan (We don’t care about the others. Those in Pharmally who are not paying their taxes, send them to jail),” he added.

READ: Drilon asks tax records of three Pharmally execs driving Porsches, Lamborghini

“Gusto niyo patayin pa ninyo. Wala— wala kaming pakialam. ‘Pag hindi nagbayad ng taxes, kriminal ‘yan (If you want, you can even kill them. We don’t care. If they don’t pay taxes, they are criminals),” he said.

The President’s remarks came after senators found that Pharmally, which entered into almost P10 billion worth of contracts with the Department of Health (DOH) through the Department of Budget and Management-Procurement Service (DBM-PS) to supply the country with alleged substandard medical equipment, may have been remiss in paying the correct taxes.

In one of the hearings held by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, it was shown that the firm had some P3.4 billion worth of purchases in 2020. However, no documentation or proof could be found that this was declared in the income tax returns the firm filed with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

This amount was nearly half of the P7.2-billion purchase Pharmally declared in its audited financial statement.

Related Tags

President Duterte Senate hearing BIR medical supplies Pharmally Pharmaceutical tax evasion 111121
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