Former ABS-CBN correspondent Ira Panganiban wrote an Open Letter to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares posted through his official Facebook account went viral after it was shared thousands of times by Filipino netizens.
The current newscaster for Inquirer Radio, Ira Panganiban questioned the BIR’s decision to freeze the accounts of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao which made headlines for the past few days.
Manny Pacquiao’s bank accounts were frozen following a P2.2 billion tax case for his failure to report the millions of dollars in taxes during the time when he was fighting against some of the world’s best boxers from the year 2008 up to year 2009. He allegedly failed to submit the necessary documents needed by the Philippine government.
The viral open letter to BIR’s Kim Henares spread like wildfire online, right now the original post by Ira Panganiban have already garnered more than 5.6K shares, 4.1 Facebook Likes and 595 comments.
An open letter to Bureau of Internet Revenue Kim Henares by a journalist posted on Facebook spread like wildfire after it heavily criticized the secretary for “arbitrary choice in the personalities she choose to prosecute.”
Here’s the Viral Letter of Journalist Ira Panganiban to BIR’s Kim Henares:
Dear Kim Henares,
I do not doubt your sincerity to collect taxes from every Filipino, living or dead.
I do not even doubt your integrity in making sure that you are able to collect the proper taxes from everyone.
I am however questioning your motives and arbitrary choice in the personalities you choose to prosecute.
I am going to cite one particular person who has been on the BIR’s radar as a perennial tax evader for the last 20-years with cases going in and out of court.
His name is Lucio Tan and he owes the country more than 5-billion pesos in tax liabilities decided on numerous times by the Supreme Court as executory and final and yet no garnishment order was ever made until his petition reaches the SC, who would then reverse their decisions time and again.
Lucio Tan was never known for his philanthropy or good business practices. He authored the contractualization of PAL and Asia Brewery employees which was not only detrimental to Filipino Labor but also to taxes that could be collected from these workers had they been regular employees.
Lucio Tan is also accused of ill-gotten wealth from his Marcos days, and yet he continues to enjoy his money.
Congressman Manny Pacquiao’s case is not even at the High Court and his earnings have already been garnished.
You have been given certified true copies of Pacman’s tax payments in the US and yet you refuse to recognize this and insist on originals which I believe, but I may be mistaken, even ?US citizens have no access to.
And to think that Pacquiao earned his money through honest, literally blood, sweat and tears. And he is one of about ten persons who insist in keeping his money in the Philippines because he is a patriot.
He could have stashed it somewhere you cannot reach if he had things to hide, but he kept it here, so our economy can make use of it.
You cannot even freeze the money of politicians involved in the PDAF scam but you can do this to an ordinary man who managed to rise above all of you through hard work, guts, integrity and the work of his own hands.
And that is why your integrity is rapidly being eroded, because you don’t seem to think anymore. You just grab the first victim that cannot fight you.
Because even if Pacquiao is a Congressman, he is not connected to the old boys club and so does not have the clout of the Tan’s, Sy’s, Dy’s and others.
Oh, and Lucio Tan did give over 100 million to Noynoy’s election kitty while Pacquiao was with the opposition.
I guess we know now the motivations don’t we?
Yours disgustedly,
Your Boss’s Boss
Even American citizen does not get a certified copy from the IRS when filing electronically or mailed through postal service. Once you e-filed your taxes here in U.S.A., we get a copy from the CPA or tax preparer signed and dated. BIR is singling out our Pambansang Kamao for the the very obvious reason.
TRUE. But you can obtain one IF YOU request from the IRS.
Perhaps, the BIR wants a certified true copy from the IRS because, in the Philippines many documents are manufactured/fake. They want to be sure they are NOT cheated.
@Gintong Lahi: Henares should be the One to ask for a certified copy not Manny Pacquaio. Philippine Government to USA Government which means faster response The burden is on Henares. Nobody here in the states can get away if you don’t pay your income tax , otherwise Pacquaio cannot fight in 2010, 2011, 2012 if he did not pay.
@Gintong Lahi: Henares should be the One to ask for a certified copy not Manny Pacquaio. Philippine Government to USA Government which means faster response The burden is on Henares. Nobody here in the states can get away if you don’t pay your income tax , otherwise Pacquaio cannot fight in 2010, 2011, 2012 if he did not pay. And last Nov. 23, 2010 which you and me watched with pride for being a Filipino.
REPLY
The burden of truth lies with the PACMAN, being the taxpayer. You overburden any government agencies, the BIR in particular, and you shall not get anything done. This is a reality, a FACT, for your information. Why do you EXPECT MANNY PACQUIAO to be above everybody else? WE knew he is a great boxer. We salute to that. We also knew that Pacquiao is a Congressman – politician. I don’t want to salute on that. The reason being, Pacquiao used his time preparing and training for his next boxing bout while being paid by our tax moneys. That alone, is already a big perk for Manny Pacquiao. WE must admit that Pacquiao is a politician who must be doing his work to legislate and not to box. There is a huge difference NOW between PACQUIAO, the Congressman and PACQUIAO, the Pambansang Kamao.
I prefer Pacquiao – the BOXER!
Ginto, just to clarify. Pacman was being victimized by BIR while he was still out of politics. Indeed he went on for elections in 2007 but “lost” so technically he is a private citizen when BIR got to him.
Indeed the burden of proof is on the tax payer but to garnish his accounts while there were still options to obtain yet again a copy of the payments? that’s absurd of BIR to do… especially that there are NO reasonable doubts that he didnt pay, like his eligibility to re-enter US soil, and that IRS is not after him.
The main issue here is why BIR is suddenly on to Pacquiao while the reality is there are “bigger” fish to fry (to garnish) like Lucio Tan who’s been on this evasion issue for many many years? Ira’s argument is correct and logical. Pacman may have billions in the bank but in the end he is just a boxer… a typical Filipino who’s only knowledge to make money is with labor. Unlike the tycoons.
Kim is messed up prick and is a BURDEN to Filipinos for picking on tiny men. She is like any other corrupt politician, a coagulant to progress and should vacate her seat FOR GOOD.
@Gintong Lahi. ” Why do you EXPECT MANNY PACQUIAO to be above everybody else? WE knew he is a great boxer. We salute to that. We also knew that Pacquiao is a Congressman – politician. I don’t want to salute on that.” It’s your word not mine. I didn’t said Manny is above the law. If you read back my comments it’s a matter of documentation. If you filed your ITR with proper documents such as W-2, electronically or via postal service the tax preparer and the tax payer were given two copies with payment. But according to Henares this is not enough because she does not trust Pacquiao, the politician. She needs an original document from the IRS which according to Bob Arum is coming soon.
http://www.rappler.com/business/44700-arum-pacquiao-tax-paperwork-us
http://sports.inquirer.net/132893/pacquiao-leaves-talking-on-tax-issue-to-lawyer
For millions who are still in doubt and debating about the PACQUIAO – HENARES (BIR) CONFRONTATION, here is a well-known Lawyer’s take on the issue. IF some can still don’t understand or accept the FACTS, my recommendation is for them to jump over San Juanico Bridge.
Dulz Speaks: A LAWYER’S TAKE ON PAQUAIO-BIR BOUT: AN INSTANT LESSON ON TAXATION
dulzspeaks.blogspot.com
@Gintong Lahi “For millions who are still in doubt and debating about the PACQUIAO – HENARES (BIR) CONFRONTATION, here is a well-known Lawyer’s take on the issue. IF some can still don’t understand or accept the FACTS, my recommendation is for them to jump over San Juanico Bridge.”
I’m glad you admit it is a debate. And that means you have to respect somebody else opinion that is why it is called a debate. Everyone has different opinions including lawyers, scientists, atheists, christians, muslims, buddhists, gays, lesbians, etc. , it varies. Such as Jaypee Ledesma, Paul Miranda and etc.
http://getrealphilippines.com/blog/2013/11/why-lucio-tan-gets-to-keep-his-loot-while-manny-pacquiaos-all-remain-frozen/
And finally, my last thought: If you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen.
Or jump from the Verazzano Narrows Brige.. ( The world’s longest suspension span in 1964).
its simple, HINDI KAYA ng BIR si LUCIO TAN.