It’s a one day story without “legs,” this flap over Manny Pacquiao supposedly not properly paying his taxes in the Philippines. If Pacman was just another boxer in a tax dispute, it would really be not even worth studying or commenting on. But Pacquiao is his homeland’s most famous living personality and a sitting Congressman who obviously has designs on someday becoming president and occupying Malacanang Palace, the Filipino equivalent of the American White House. Now Pacquiao is saying the tax people failed to give him enough time to submit the proper documents as to his income. I think this is embarrassing for a future presidential candidate, I really do. As my old boss, sportscasting legend Howard Cosell often said, “Who goofed? I’ve got to know!” As in who goofed in the army of Pacquiao employees, particularly his personal accountants? Why weren’t the financial documents submitted on time? Why should Pacquiao get more time than Joe Schmoe to submit his financials and pay what he owes? What I know about vicious Pinoy politics could fit inside a thimble and I don’t know if political enemies of Manny have any involvement in this tax flap. But there’s no need to go outside Pacquiao’s Inner Circle and play the blame game on this one. No one wants to hear Pacquiao whining about not having enough time. When you’ve got a bunch of bean counters on your payroll, how does this happen? At the end of the day, Manny is the boss with the hot sauce. If his bean counters aren’t doing their job and getting his taxes paid in full on time, then why are they still getting Pacman paychecks? Like I say, if this was Bernabe Concepcion or any other Pinoy boxer, no one would even bother with the story. But this worldwide icon Pacquiao and like any news item related to him, the microscopic gets magnified 100 times over. Pay up, Pacman. You’re a lawmaker. You want to become presdient of your country, I believe. And I hope you do, so you can grant my request to get Filipino citizenship and be named ambassador to Brazil. More seriously, you are presidential timber and you’re supposed to set an example. Pay up, Manny, and then make whoever goofed what Don King likes to refer to as FMFs. That’s Fired Mother Flyers if you don’t know. Not getting taxes paid on time is hardly presidential. ([email protected])
