House Ways and Means committee chairman Marikina City Rep. Romero Quimbo, a lawyer, said the tax exemption eyed for Pacquiao will raise questions about fairness in the application of the law. Quimbo also said the tax exemption should instead be granted to policemen, soldiers and other ordinary workers who help maintain the peace and order in the country. “[While] we truly idolize Manny and laud his efforts for the country… there are other hardworking Filipinos, aside from athletes, who deserve more tax breaks than athletes. They are the soldiers and policemen who put their lives on the line. Unahin muna natin ang mga kawani ng gobyerno na makakuha ng tax break bago ang mga mayayaman,” Quimbo said. Deputy Speaker Giorgidi Aggabao, also a lawyer, has a technical view. He said the proposal of Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel to grant tax exemption to Pacquiao will pointless because the Sarangani congressman no longer has to pay taxes to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) once he is taxed by the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS). “Manny Pacquiao would pay his taxes in the US primarily, because that is the situs of taxation. Now, that tax paid to the U.S. government would be credited against his tax liability to the Philippine government. Since the tax that Manny would be paying abroad is higher than what he would owe the BIR, it stands to reason that Manny would not owe the BIR anything,” he explained. Pimentel’s plan to file a bill exempting Pacquiao Read More …
