Workers belonging to Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) staged yesterday a lightning rally at Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) main office along Agham Road in Quezon City, denouncing what they called ?persecution? of boxing champion and Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao.
Carrying placards that read ?Go after greedy capitalist, not Pacman,? the KMU said government should go after big name businessmen who are into tax dodging racket.
In a media press release, KMU spokesman Elmor Labog said government should spare the hardworking athlete like Pacquiao from investigation and should go after capitalists who allegedly owe the country more.
?The government is grossly mistaken if it thinks that being tough on Pacquiao would improve its international reputation,? Labog said.
Pacquiao is facing a P2.2 billion seizure proceedings of his bank assets following his alleged refusal to present his income tax returns submitted to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the United States.
?DON?T USE POLITICS? Meanwhile, a neophyte party-list lawmaker is asking the eight-time world boxing champion not to use politics as his legal defense.
1-BAP party-list Rep. Silvestre Bello III, who served as secretary of the Department of Justice (DoJ) said it would be better for Pacquiao not to use politics to defend himself over the tax case slapped against him.
?For his (Pacquiao) sake, he should not use politics as legal strategy,? he said in the wake of brewing reports that Pacquiao may be joining House opposition bloc, led by San Juan City Rep. Ronaldo Zamora.
Bello said their group is ready to welcome Pacquiao, a member of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) who joined the majority coalition, led by Speaker Feliciano ?Sonny? Belmonte Jr. to be their new member.
UNA secretary general and Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco expressed confidence that Pacquiao would not jumpship, but he said he would respect the boxing champ?s personal decision.
?When I spoke to him, he did not tell me about this,? Tiangco said.
?But I am confident he will not leave UNA,? Tiangco added.
