BIR sues Pacquiao for incomplete tax papers

GENERAL SANTOS CITY—The Bureau of Internal Revenue has filed a complaint against world boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao for alleged failure to submit complete tax records for the year 2010.

Pacquiao quickly denied he tried to avoid paying correct taxes.

“I am not hiding anything,” the boxer said. “Everything that I have to pay has been paid,” he said.

Lucita Rodriguez, BIR deputy commissioner, said Pacquiao failed to heed summons issued by the BIR in Central Mindanao meant to ask him to explain his failure to submit complete documents for taxation.

Rodriguez said under the law, BIR regional directors are vested with quasi-judicial powers, which include, among others, directing individuals or companies to open their tax records or books of account.

Rodriguez said the regional BIR office was just doing its job and the filing of the complaint at the city prosecutor’s office in Koronadal City on March 1 was meant to compel Pacquiao to submit the documents required of him.

Bren Evangelio, a member of Pacquiao’s congressional staff, told reporters that the boxer had not yet received a copy of the complaint.

Evangelio claimed that before the boxing champion left for Manila, he had directed his lawyers to patch things up with the BIR.

According to Evangelio, Pacquiao transferred his tax registration from Pasig City to General Santos City to help the local BIR office in their revenue collection drive.

Pacquiao is on the list of the world’s wealthiest athletes after earning hundreds of millions of dollars from his fights and endorsements.