Presidential aspirant and Manila mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Monday, Feb. 28, said he would go after the Marcos family’s estimated P200-billion in estate tax debts if elected in the upcoming elections.

Domagoso said he will use the proceeds from these tax debts to help Filipinos who were affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Meron akong gagawing ayuda. I’ll make sure that I will implement the decision of the Supreme Court , GR 120880, na may isang pamilya na pinagbabayad ng estate tax. As we speak, it’s about P200 billion already (I have something to help. I’ll make sure that I will implement the decision of the Supreme Court, GR 120880, with one family paying estate tax. As we speak, it’s about P200 billion already),” he said in an ambush interview.

“If and if ako’y maging presidente, yung pera na yon na buwis ha, hindi po ito regular na buwis, estate tax, ngayon po P200 billion na ang halaga. E kung ipamigay ko rin na ayuda? Tutal pera niyo naman yon e (If and if I become president, that money will be a tax, it is not a regular tax, estate tax, now it is worth P200 billion. What if I just give it as assistance? After all, it’s your money),” he added.

While Domagoso did not once mention “Marcos”, GR 120880 nevertheless refers to a June 1997 SC ruling ordering the Marcoses to pay the P23.29 billion estate tax owed by the Marcoses from 1982 to 1986, as computed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

The Marcos family contested the BIR’s deficiency assessment which caused the amount to reach P203.8 billion due to the penalties that have accumulated through the decades that the Marcos heirs failed to pay.

The Manila mayor, meanwhile, assured he would implement the law fairly and equally.

“Sabi ko nga, there is certainty and predictability in our administration. Sabi ko rin na walang mahirap, walang middle class, walang mayaman. Kung nakakatikim ng kulungan yung aksidenteng makakuha ng anim na kilong mangga, that goes to anybody who will be found guilty of such crime. Yun lang ang importante ( I also said that there is no poor, no middle class, no rich. If the one who accidentally gets six kilos of mangoes tastes jail, that goes to anybody who will be found guilty of such a crime. That's all that matters),” said he.

“There is a decision, they should pay, those people should pay, whoever they are. Kung siya ay collectibles na, dapat kolektahin (If it is already a collectible, rhen it should be collected),” he said.

Domagoso had earlier reminded Filipino voters to be careful in choosing their candidates.’ (Wag kayong magkakamali... Baka you've been electing the same group of people. Baka paulit ulit niyo lang biniboto 'yung pare parehas na koponon. Baka gusto niyo maiba naman (Don’t make a mistake... You may be electing the same group of people. Maybe you're just voting for the same team over and over again. Maybe you want to be different).”