Palace on tax exemption proposal for Pacquiao: How about other athletes?

MANILA, Philippines—How about other athletes who also “go out, compete and bear the flag”?

This was the reaction of Malacañang after a senator said he would file a bill granting Filipino world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao a “special tax exemption” with his May 2 fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

“We’ll defer to Commissioner (Kim) Henares for inputs on that,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said on Saturday in an interview on state run radio dzRB radio.

Valte said Congress would need to deliberate on the tax exemption proposal for Pacquiao, citing many questions may arise.

“Paano ho ‘yung mga ibang atleta na they also go out and compete, they bear the flag, and kasama din po ba sila kung sakali, lalo ‘yung mga iba nating professional athletes? (How about other athletes who also go out and compete, they bear the flag, are they included, especially our professional athletes?),” she said.

Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Friday said he would file a bill to exempt Pacquiao from paying his taxes, saying it was a “fitting tribute to the priceless package proudly promoting the country once again on the international map.”

Pacquiao and Mayweather will have their much-awaited fight on May 2 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.

RELATED STORIES

‘Fitting tribute?’ Pimentel eyes special tax incentive for Pacquiao

Robin Padilla to Pimentel: Leave Pacquiao out of ‘trapo tricks’