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MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) has denied claims made by the camp of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that his family’s P203.819 billion estate tax liabilities are yet to be finalized.
In a letter dated March 11, the PCGG stressed that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) “already executed its final assessment” on the involved properties as early as 1993 and that “as early as 1997, the judgment on the tax case had become final and executory.”
It said that even if there was a 2003 “verbal understanding” between the PCGG and BIR, “it may not be accurate to state that the agreement was to determine with accuracy the fair and just tax base to be used in computing estate taxes if any.”
“Because as early as 1993, BIR already executed its final assessment when it levied and sold 11 real properties in Tacloban City, and as early as 1997, the judgment on the tax case had become final and executory,” the commission explained in the letter signed by PCGG Chairman John Agbayani and Commissioners Raymond Anthony Dilag and retired Maj. Gen. Rhoderick Parayno.
READ: Isko party to BIR: Demand Marcos heirs to pay P203 billion owed to gov’t
The PCGG letter was a response to presidential candidate Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso’s Aksyon Demokratiko party, which earlier asked the commission to shed light on a claim made by Marcos Jr.’s spokesperson, Atty. Victor Rodriguez.
READ: Isko Moreno’s camp to PCGG: Is there a deal on unpaid P203B estate tax of Marcoses?
Rodriguez earlier claimed that the tax cases involving the Marcos family’s properties were still being litigated.
He said: “In fact, even BIR and the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) have arrived at an agreement for the BIR to wait for the decision on the said case before any collection enforcement activities and to establish ownership of the subject properties with certainty to determine with accuracy the fair and just tax base to be used in computing estate taxes, if any.”
READ: Unsettled estate tax? Properties still under litigation, says Marcos camp
Liars
After the PCGG explanation, Aksyon Demokratiko Chairperson Ernest Ramel Jr. concluded that Rodriguez and Marcos Jr.’s camp are liars.
“Sinungaling talaga at mahilig lang sa palusot at gumamit ng mabulaklaking Ingles si Atty. Vic Rodriguez at ang kampo ni Marcos Jr. para lituhin at ilihis ang katotohanan sa mga Pilipino,” Ramel said in a statement.
(Atty. Vic Rodriguez and Marcos Jr.’s camp are really liars who like making excuses and use flowery English to confuse and divert the truth from Filipinos.)
“Humarap na kayo sa mga debate at huwag panay kasinungalingan ang gamitin ninyo. Hindi ba kayo nahihiya sa inyong gawain na magpakalat ng poot, pagkahati-hati at negatibong paraan ng kampanya sa pamamagitan ng kasinungalingan?” he added.
(Face the debates and don’t use lies. Are you not ashamed of your work to spread hatred, division, and negative campaign methods through lies?)
INQUIRER.net has already reached out to Marcos Jr.’s camp for a comment regarding the PCGG letter but has yet to receive a reply as of writing.