By Clarist Zablan
(March 16, 2022) – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) had demanded from the heirs of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos to pay billions of pesos in estate tax liabilities, a presidential candidate said on Tuesday.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said his political party Aksyon Demokratiko has received a written reply from BIR Commissioner Cesar Dulay, saying the revenue agency “did send a written demand to the Marcos heirs on December 02, 2021 regarding their tax liabilities.”
The Marcos’ heirs included former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Domagoso’s rival in the presidential race.
Marcos Jr led the presidential race based on recent pre-election surveys.
“So, I’m very happy that Commissioner Dulay wrote them a demand letter for them to pay. Sana makuha natin,” Domagoso told reporters before a motorcade.
“May isang rule that we checked na after five years at hindi sinulatan uli, magpre-prescribe, mawe-waive lahat yon. Now, if that is the case, today is 2022, kapag na-elect ang pamilya na yon at sila magpapatakbo ng gobyerno ng anim na taon, maba-balewala na yong P200 billion.”
“KAPAG NA-ELECT ANG PAMILYA NA ‘YUN… MABA-BALEWALA NA ‘YUNG P200 BILLION”
Ito ang hamon ni presidential candidate Manila Mayor Isko Moreno kaugnay ng P200 bilyong estate tax ng pamilya Marcos na hindi pa rin nababayaran. #BilangPilipino2022 pic.twitter.com/u1MvBlOoyu
— News5 (@News5PH) March 16, 2022
In a column published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer last year, retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said the BIR needs to renew written demands to the Marcos heirs on their estate tax liabilities, estimated at P203.82 billion, once every five years as they will prescribe and become uncollectable otherwise.
The mayor reiterated his plans to use the large sum for cash assistance to Filipinos who lost jobs and livelihood due to the pandemic, adding that this will also help them grapple with the soaring fuel prices, driven by the deepening Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Dulay’s letter came after Aksyon chairman Ernesto Ramel sent him a letter last week, inquiring if the agency has sent a new written demand to the Marcos heirs on their estate tax liabilities. He also inquired to the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) on the matter.
This refers to the 1995 Court of Appeals decision, affirmed by the Supreme Court two years later, scrapping Marcos Jr’s petition questioning their estate tax assessed by the BIR at P23.3 billion. The current liabilities included interests accrued over the years.
This came after Marcos Jr’s spokesman, Vic Rodriguez, criticized Ramel for calling out the former senator’s tax liabilities early this month, claiming that the case has yet to reach finality as properties subject of the case are still under litigation.
The PCGG, an agency created to recover the stolen wealth of Marcos and his cronies, has clarified that Rodriguez’ statement may not be accurate, as the judgement on the tax case had already become final and executory as early as 1997.
(MM)
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