Leaders of the House of Representatives on Wednesday urged boxing superstar and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao to directly face the tax case filed against him by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. advised Pacquiao to squarely answer allegations that he failed to submit tax records the BIR required him to produce.
?Congressman Pacquiao should talk to the BIR, and preferably with his accountant. That?s the better way to settle the issue,? Belmonte told reporters.
The BIR has filed a case against Pacquiao for alleged violation of Section 266 of the National Internal Revenue Code, or the provision on ?failure to obey summons,? after he supposedly did not submit documents such as tax records and contract endorsements asked from him by the agency.
Pacquiao described the BIR?s move as ?plain and simple harassment,? even calling for the sacking of BIR Region 12 director Rozil Lozares.
House Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II, meanwhile, said that Pacquiao should not put any political color to the charges filed against him by the BIR.
?There is no basis to cry harassment. To further connect it to the impeachment is hitting below the belt,? Gonzales said in a separate interview.
Pacquiao did not sign the impeachment complaint filed by the House against Chief Justice Renato Corona last December. He also opposes the administration-backed Reproductive Health (RH) bill.
The Filipino boxer has earlier said, however, that he thinks the tax case has nothing to do with his stand on political issues.
?Insensitive?
San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito, on the other hand, criticized BIR officials for their supposedly ?insensitive? handling of Pacquiao?s case.
?The BIR officials? [statement in] the media is apparently becoming an attack to his [Pacquiao?s] personality rather than what they say as a fulfillment of duty,? he said in a statement.
Ejercito also called on BIR officials to stop labeling Pacquiao as a tax evader, since the case filed against the Filipino boxer has nothing to do with failure to pay correct taxes.
?Is this how the government repays him [Pacquiao] for the victories he has brought to our country, by harassing him in the public to pay his taxes?? he asked.
YACAP party-list Rep. Carol Jane Lopez, one of Pacquiao?s closest friends at the House, expressed confidence that the case will not affect the Filipino boxer?s performance in his fight against American boxer Timothy Bradley.
?Magaling mag-condition si Manny Pacquiao ng mind and body in preparation for every fight,? she said.
Pacquiao is scheduled to face off with Bradley on June 9 in Las Vegas. ? KBK, GMA News
