Palace: Media to blame on uproar over Pacquiao tax woes

BIR Commissioner Kim Henares. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – Who dunnit?

Malacañang on Tuesday clarified that it was mediamen who asked Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares about the tax liabilities of Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao, contrary to public opinion that Henares was a “spoiler.”

“Si Commissioner Henares po ay tinanong ng mga kagawad ng midya (tungkol sa tax obligation ni Congressman Pacquiao) at bilang isang public official tungkulin po nyang sumagot, lalong lalo na kung ang isyu na tinanong sa kanya ay public interest,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said in a press briefing.

(Media practitioners asked Commissioner Henares about Congressman Pacquiao’s tax obligation and as a public official, it is her task to respond, especially if the issue at hand is of public interest.)

“Kaya siguro kailangang linawin na hindi naman sya ang nagpasimuno o nagbukas ng usapan…dahil meron tayong naririnig na ibang kuro-kuro na para naman daw spoiler si Commissioner, nagdiriwang pa lamang ay inungkat iyan. Hindi naman po yata ganun ang pangyayari,” Coloma added.

(That is why there is a need to clarify that she was not the one who started the discussion on that. We’ve been hearing comments on the Commissioner being a spoiler, the issue raised amid the celebration of Pacquiao’s win. That’s not how it happened.)

The Secretary said the government has no intention to spoil the victory of the pound-for-pound boxer.

Hours after Pacquiao’s triumph against Timothy Bradley on Sunday (Philippine time), Coloma released a statement in behalf of the Palace, calling the boxing icon a “national treasure.”

Nevertheless, he said the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Pacquiao camp has long been discussing the issue and that Henares’ recent statements were mentioned options on how to address the tax liability.

“Hindi naman sya gumawa ng tahasang deklarasyon o nagbibigay puna,” he said.

(She did not give an outright declaration nor did she criticize.)

In recent interviews, Henares said Pacquiao’s tax liabilities were at least P2.1 billion as of December 2012. This does not include the amount of interest incurred.