Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said yesterday the government will continue to pursue its P3.2-billion tax collection case against boxing icon Manny Pacquiao even if the latter joins the Liberal Party of President Aquino.
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 declared, 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 terse remark when asked if she would reconsider the tough stand of the bureau against the congressman from Sarangani should he choose to switch his political allegiance and join the LP.
It was earlier reported 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 deficiency tax assessment, more than half of which covered the 50-percent surcharge and 20-percent annual interest.
The Supreme Court has issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) stopping the Court of Tax Appeals from imposing on Pacquiao a surety bond of R4.9 billion, or a cash bond of P3.9 billion.
Pacquiao sought the TRO to reduce the huge bond which, he claimed, is to excessive as it is more than his net worth.
The posting of the bond was a prerequisite for the lifting of the seizure warrant issued by the BIR on his bank deposits.
The tax assessment was based on Pacquiao?s estimated $28-million that Pacquiao earned in successfully defending his various boxing titles in five bouts in the United States from 2008 and 2009.
