The camp of Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Friday, April 1, urged former senator Ferdinand Marcos “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. anew to avail of the estate tax amnesty program of the government, and instead pay only P23-billion estate tax liabilities.
“Pagkakataon niyo na ito mga sirs, mga ma’am, mga Marcoses, Marcos Jr. Meron na po kayong amnesty, bayad na po. Sige na po. Mas mapapakinabangan ito ng mas maraming Pilipino sa panahon ngayon (This is your chance sirs, ma’ams, Marcoses, Marcos Jr. You already have amnesty, it has been paid. All right. It will be more useful to more Filipinos today),” Aksyon Demokratiko Chairman Ernest Ramel said in a press conference at the Isko Moreno Domagoso for President headquarters in Intramuros, Manila.
Ramel pointed out that the Marcoses can now pay the P23 billion without thinking about the accrued interests.
The party chairman cited Republic Act 11569, or the Estate Amnesty Act, which grants estate administrators, lawful heirs, or beneficiaries the opportunity to settle their tax obligations through an estate amnesty program until June 15, 2019.
In June 30, 2021, RA 11569 was signed by President Duterte, extending the availment period of the estate tax amnesty for two years.
“So, easily, pwede na nilang bayaran, waived na yung P180 billion na (they can now pay, the P180 billion has been waived) computed surcharges, penalties and interests,” Ramel pointed out.
Partido Federal ng Pilipinas general counsel George Briones on Wednesday, March 30, admitted that the Supreme Court in 1997 ruled with finality that the Marcoses owed P23 billion in estate tax, adding that the P180 billion in penalties may still be subject to reconciliation.
Domagoso has been repeatedly saying that he will run after the P203 billion estate tax debts of the Marcoses, saying these could be used as “ayuda” for Filipinos affected by the pandemic.