Isko Moreno: Duterte correct for flagging BIR over uncollected estate tax

FILE PHOTO: President Rodrigo Duterte (left) and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno (right). INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate and Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Wednesday said President Rodrigo Duterte was right to call out the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for not collecting overdue estate taxes.

“Well, tama si Pangulong Duterte doon dahil ‘yun naman ay due sa ating bansa. It only shows that y’ung pagkakapantay-pantay ipapairal niya,” he said in an ambush interview in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte.

(Well, President Duterte is correct because that is due to our country. It only shows that he wants equality to prevail.)

Moreno, without mentioning names, said a certain candidate claiming to seek an elective post to serve the people should set an example by paying taxes.

“Eto, bagay lamang na makuha ng tao. Eh kung talagang tumatakbo tayo para tulungan at itaas ang antas ng pamumuhay ng tao, I think ‘yung involved na pamilya na ‘yon na siya rin namang kandidato, ay dito na niya ipakita ‘yung tunay niyang pagmamahal sa taong bayan na ibigay niya ‘yong marapat lamang para sa tao at para sa bansa,” Moreno added.

(it is only right for people to get this [tax]. If we are really running to help and raise the quality of life of the people, I think the involved family where someone is a candidate, that person should show his real love to the country by giving what is due for the people and the country.)

Duterte has called out the BIR for its alleged failure to collect estate taxes, which, he said, could have helped the cash-strapped government bankroll some of its programs.

READ: Short in funding, Duterte asks BIR why estate tax had not been collected yet

Earlier Wednesday, acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar was asked if Duterte’s remark on estate tax collection is related to calls for the family of presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to settle their P203 billion estate tax liabilities. His answer: “Hindi lang kung sinong pulitiko o personalidad. Dapat sa lahat ng hindi nagbabayad ay dapat habulin ng BIR sapagkat kailangan ng karagdagang pondo ng ating national government,” he said.

(Not just politicians and personalities. All those who are not paying should be pursued by the BIR because our national government needs additional funds.)

READ: BIR should go after all tax delinquents, not just politicians, personalities — Palace

It was Moreno’s Aksyon Demokratiko party that called for the urgent payment of the P203 billion unpaid estate taxes of the Marcos family.

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