BIR to go after Pacquiao even if he joins LP – Kim

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares said yesterday the government will continue to pursue its 3.2-billion tax collection case against boxing icon Manny Pacquiao even if he joins President Aquino’s Liberal Party (LP).

Henares said Pacquiao’s tax case should not be influenced by politics as she stressed it is the BIR’s task to

collect the right taxes from taxpayers.

“The BIR is above politics,” she said, adding that her agency is mandated to run after delinquent taxpayers regardless of their stature in life and to collect revenues from all sources so that the government can effectively operate and service the needs of the less fortunate.

Henares made the remark when asked if she will reconsider the tough stand of the bureau against the congressman from Sarrangani should he choose to switch his political allegiance and join the LP.

It was reported earlier that some influential partymates of the President have been wooing Pacquiao to join the LP and run for senator under the administration ticket in next year’s polls.

Pacquiao is a known close friend and political ally of Vice President Jejomar Binay, the presidential bet of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) opposition party.

Pacquiao is facing seizure proceedings of his bank deposits for his alleged refusal to settle more than P3.2 billion in deficiency tax assessment, more than half of which covered the 50-percent surcharge and 20-percent annual interest.

The tax assessment was based on the estimated $28 million that Pacquiao earned in successfully defending his various boxing titles in five bouts in the United States between 2008 and 2009.