Former Senate President and known Marcos ally Juan Ponce Enrile claims that the P203-billion estate tax issue against the Marcos family is politically-charged especially with Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.'s participation in the Palace race.
“Walang issue. Kasuhan mo si Bongbong? Eh tatawanan ka (There is no issue. File a case against Bongbong? He’ll laugh at you),” Enrile said in a radio interview on Tuesday, April 5.
Enrile explained that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has not yet finalized their assessment of the Marcos estate’s assets. He also says that the estate tax applies to the estate, not to individual members of the Marcos family.
“Hindi pwedeng yung BIR mismo ang gagawa ng assessment ng valuation at ng asset. Eh siyempre kung BIR, iwanan mo sa BIR yun eh baka lalagpas sa 200 billion ‘yung basehan nila... Iyong estate tax, ‘estate’ tax nga eh, buwis ng estate at hindi buwis ni Bongbong. Hindi buwis ni Imelda. Hindi buwis ni Imee or ni Irene. Buwis ng estate ni Presidente Marcos (The BIR itself cannot make the assessment which values the assets. If you leave it with the BIR then it will exceed P200 billion... Estate tax refers to the tax of the estate, not the taxes of Bongbong, Imelda , Imee , or Irene . It is the estate tax of President Marcos Sr.,” he explained.
Enrile, who graduated with a Masters of Law degree from Harvard University, even insinuated that he would be willing to legally represent the Marcoses.
“Mag-presenta sana ako na maging abogado niya dalhin nila lahat ng magagaling na mga abogado dyan. Hindi naman ako nagyayabang, nag-practice ako ng law. Lahat ng klaseng trial na hinawakan ko na, nasa record ng Pilipinas yan. Wala pa akong natalong kaso (Maybe I can volunteer as his lawyer, and they can bring forward their best lawyers. I’m not bragging, I’ve practiced law. I’ve handled all types of trials, it’s public record. I haven’t lost a case),” Enrile said.
The BIR previously confirmed that it had already sent a written demand pertaining to the P203-billion tax liabilities to the heirs of late dictator Marcos Sr. last December 2021.
Former BIR Commissioner Kim Jacinto-Henares has also said that even if Marcos Jr. is elected in the 2022 polls, the Marcos family would still be held liable for the estate tax dues.
Meanwhile, the BIR has already begun the process of auctioning off Marcos estate properties after being unable to get the Marcos family to pay the P203-billion tax dues.
Enrile previously served as the Justice Secretary and Defense Minister during the administration of Marcos Sr., and even during the martial law era.
Despite withdrawing support for Marcos Sr. prior the 1986 EDSA Revolution, Enrile once again joined forces with a Marcos. This time, he’s backing the presidential campaign of Marcos Jr., who leads the UniTeam alliance.