DAVAO CITY—President Benigno Aquino III’s message to Chinese-Filipino businessmen last week couldn’t be clearer than when he spoke in Chinese and uttered these words: “Hui sin pa la tyo she.”
In this city, traders’ groups quickly got the message—pay the correct taxes.
The President cited records of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, which showed that only a few of some of the richest people in the country pay taxes or if they do, they would not declare their correct income to lower their dues.
Speaking at the 29th biennial convention of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) last week, Mr. Aquino warned that the government will not think twice in going after delinquent businessmen, who would continue to evade paying the correct amount of taxes.
In a statement sent here, FFCCCII president Tan Ching said in his response that his group has always been appealing to members to pay the correct taxes as part of their support to the President’s tuwid na daan platform of governance.
“As most of our member organizations are nonstock, nonprofit organizations, the federation reiterates the call for all to ensure that proper compliance is met,” Ching said in the statement.
He said FFCCCII wanted to assure the President that it has been vigorously pushing for the diligent payment by its members of their tax obligations on or before April 15. Inquirer Mindanao