Roque to Hontiveros: Gov’t collecting unpaid Pogo taxes

MANILA, Philippines — The government is collecting the unpaid taxes of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo), Malacañang told Senator Risa Hontiveros Thursday amid criticisms on the taxing of online sellers.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said this after the opposition senator said the government should first collect the P50-billion unpaid taxes from Pogos instead of taxing online sellers amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Sinisingil po natin Senator [Risa] Hontiveros. Hindi po natin sila pinalulusot. Hindi po sila pupuwedeng magbukas hangga’t hindi sila nagbabayad ng kanilang mga buwis,” Roque said in a televised press briefing.

(We collect their taxes Senator [Risa] Hontiveros. They will not be allowed to open unless they pay their taxes.)

Earlier, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) directed online sellers and other digital-based businesses to register their activities, declare previous transactions and settle their corresponding taxes not later than July 31.

But Hontiveros scored the government for allegedly adding to the burden of ordinary Filipinos who just want to earn extra money to help tide them over the health crisis.

“Kahit na may 50B pesos unpaid taxes sila, at kahit na di essential, pinayagan pa ring mag-operate sa ilalim ng ECQ [enhanced community quarantine]. Mayroon din silang mass testing, at tayo wala,” Hontiveros said in a statement.

(Although they have P50 billion unpaid taxes, and although they are not essential, they are still allowed to operate under the ECQ. They also have mass testing, and we don’t.)

“Pwede bang kapakanan ng mga Pinoy muna?” she added.

(Can the welfare of the Filipinos come first?)

The BIR order came after several businesses turned to the online platform as coronavirus lockdown restrictions prevented the opening of physical stores.

But the Palace said sellers earning P250,000 below annually are exempted from paying taxes under the tax reform law.

/MUF