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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Roque tells Pacquiao: Tax evasion a form of corruption

Roque tells Pacquiao: Tax evasion a form of corruption

Published Jul 12, 2021 03:20 pm

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque advised Senator Manny Pacquiao to look himself in the mirror as he reminded him that tax evasion was also a form of corruption.

Senator Manny Pacquiao and Presidential spokesman Harry Roque (Manila Bulletin/File Photos)

Roque made the statement days after President Duterte floated Pacquiao's tax cases in the Philippines in response to the latter's allegation of corruption in the present administration.

In his press briefing on Monday, Roque echoed Duterte's appeal to Pacquiao to look at himself before throwing stones at others.

"Kung ikaw ay tunay na naninidigan laban sa korupsyon, sa iyong pamumuhay dapat wala kang korupsyon (If you really are against corruption, then that should apply to your own lifestyle)," he said.

"Ang hindi pagbabayad ng tamang buwis at isang form ng korupsyon (Not paying the correct taxes is also a form of corruption)," he added.

According to Roque, Pacquiao's allegations were merely words that he did not even attempt to prove.

"Unang-una ang mga alegasyon po ni Senator Pacquiao ay mga alegasyon, walang detalye, at tapos umalis siya (His allegations were merely allegations with no details and he just left the country)," he said.

"Ang inaasahan sana ng Presidente ay gagampanan niya yung kanyang papel bilang isang Senador na talagang mag-iimbestiga sa Senado pero hindi po 'yan nangyari (The President was expecting him to do his job as a Senator and investigate this in the Senate but that didn't happen)," he added.

Pacquiao has left the country to prepare for his fight against American boxer Errol Spence in Las Vegas, Nevada next month.

In one of his latest jabs against the world-renowned boxer, President Duterte said he remembered that Senator Pacquiao was assessed to pay P2.2 billion of unpaid taxes to the government. However, he said he was not going to go after Pacquiao.

In 2014, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said that as of December 2012, Pacquiao had a P2.2 billion worth of value-added tax (VAT) deficiency.

However, in July 2018, the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) ordered the BIR to "cease and desist" from collecting over P3-billion worth of deficiency tax for taxable years 2008 and 2009 against Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee.

Related Tags

Harry Roque 2022 elections tax evasion corruption Manny Pacquiao
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