Various colleagues of Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao in Congress appealed to Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares to be careful in dealing with Pacquiao’s tax obligations so it won’t dampen the celebratory spirit of the Filipinos.
The solons said Henares should deal with Pacquiao personally in private regarding his multi-million dollar purse for winning his fight with American Timothy Bradley last Sunday. This will also avoid speculations that the Mindanao solon is being made part of the revenue agency’s shame campaign against suspected tax evaders.
Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano said the BIR should keep the tax issue away from the public. Reps. Roy Seneres (OFW Family Partylist) and Terry Ridon (Kabataan Partylist) for their part said that that Pacquiao and his accountants should be given enough time to submit his income records and settle the tax due the government.
Ridon further advised Henares against placing Pacquiao in her “shame campaign” list. Seneres added that Henares should realize that Pacquiao’s served as an inspiration for the victims of calamities for them to “rise again” despite the odds.
The lawmakers issued statements as various social media cites had criticisms against Henares after the BIR chief reminded Pacquiao to report his earnings from his Sunday’s fight a few days before the boxing bout with Bradley.
