Lacson: Gov't should go after P203-B worth of unpaid taxes by Marcos heirs
Partido Reporma standard bearer Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said the government, through the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), should collect the P203-billion worth of estate taxes owed by former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. and his family.
Lacson expressed his position on the matter at the recent “PiliPinas Debates 2022” organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday evening in Pasay City, saying he finds it grossly unacceptable that the state has to scramble for funds to support its basic social services programs while letting the rich and powerful get away with billions of unpaid taxes.
It was fellow presidential candidate Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso who raised the matter about the Marcos’ family’s debts. Lacson said he supports Domagoso’s position on the issue.
Lacson agreed to Moreno’s proposition, saying the government stands to gain more if the BIR succeeds in collecting the Marcoses’ debts.
The senator noted that despite the enactment of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) laws in the 18th Congress, the government only generated P101-billion.
“Alam niyo, ‘yung ipinasa naming mga tax packages, ang dami noon e. Ang na-attain lamang P101-billion. TRAIN 1, TRAIN 2, ang dami—P101-billion. E mayroong P203-billion nga na sisingilin lamang nandiyan na, bakit ayaw singilin ng BIR? (We passed so many tax packages. Yet we only attainted P101-billion. TRAIN 1, TRAIN 2—only P101-billion. Yet here we have a P203-billion that we only have to ask from them, yet the BIR won’t collect it from them),” Lacson lamented.
In a separate interview, Lacson expressed doubts the government would be able to collect the billions of funds the Marcoses owes if Marcos, Jr. wins in the upcoming May 2022 presidential elections.
“Ang problema diyan in case he (Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.) wins, kaya bang kolektahin ng BIR ‘yun( (The problem here is that in case he wins, can the BIR collect it)?” Lacson pointed out when interviewed after the debate.