‘BIR is right going after Pacquiao’

MANILA, Philippines—Following the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s filing of the tax evasion case against its former poster boy, boxing icon and Representative Manny Pacquiao, half of INQUIRER.net readers think it was only the right thing to do.

In a poll conducted between March 29 and April 12, 51.73 percent or 2,682 answered “BIR is only right to go after Pacquiao” to the question, “What do you think of the BIR’s tax case against Manny Pacquiao?”

However, 32.15 percent or 1,667 thought it could be talked over by answering “BIR and Pacquiao should settle the case amicably.”

Meanwhile, 16.12 percent or 836 voted that “Pacquiao is right in calling the BIR move as harassment.”

In March, the BIR filed a tax evasion case against Pacquiao, for his alleged failure to submit complete tax records for the year 2010.

It said that Pacquiao ignored summons issued by the BIR office in Central Mindanao asking him to explain his failure to submit complete tax documents.

Pacquiao cried foul over the case, claiming that it was “without basis” and a form of harassment.

“The institution of the case against me is plain and simple harassment.  Contrary to public perception, I am not charged with Tax Evasion or Tax Fraud.  That is farther from the truth.  Over the years as a boxer, a product endorser and a businessman,” he said in a statement.

Pacquiao said the BIR violated its own rules when it served the subpoena to a person unknown to him. He also asked why the BIR served the subpoena in General Santos City when he is now a resident of Sarangani.

The boxing sensation, who topped the taxpayer’s list in 2008, made a 30-second television commercial for BIR in 2009 reminding citizens to pay their taxes.