Amid his tax woes, it seems that boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao has found himself a champion.
“According to House Bill 3521 (The Pacquiao Act of 2013) filed by Valenzuela Representative Magtanggol Gunigundo I, Pacquiao — who is currently embroiled in a case with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) — deserves to be exempted from taxes for life because of the honor and recognition he has given to the country owing to his boxing skills,” reports Lira Dalangin-Fernandez on InterAksyon.com.
If the bill is enacted into law, all of the other income tax liabilities Pacquiao incurred for the previous years shall considered “knocked out.”
Does this bill has a fighting chance?
Netizens have reacted negatively to the proposal, with one person calling it “sheer idiocy.”
“@cesdrilon: Lifetime tax exemption for Cong Manny Pacquiao ???? Agree? Disagree?” Sheer idiocy and an absolute trapo move.
— Dodge Ronquillo (@dodgepodge) December 5, 2013
BIR Commissioner Kim Henares also criticized the bill, saying it would be unfair to other taxpayers. “There should be a valid classification and everyone who is similarly situated should be accorded the same privilege. We have other national heroes, why aren’t we giving them the same privilege,” she said in an interview on ANC.
More and more people have been tweeting their support or, no, agreement with Kim Henares. Witness sports broadcaster Ron Nathaniel’s:
.We agree with BIR head Kim Henares. Giving Pacquiao tax exemption for life would be terribly unfair.Give him some tax breaks as a reward.
— Ronnie Nathanielsz (@ronnathanielsz) December 5, 2013
So it looks like the tide has shifted.
When Pacquiao held a press conference on Nov 26 to announce that his bank accounts had been ordered frozen because of the BIR’s allegations that he failed to declare the correct amount from 2008 to 2009, the public was throwing its support behind him, calling the BIR a bully.
After Gunigundo’s proposed bill, these supporters are beginning to wonder if he shouldn’t be made to pay taxes, after all.
