Aksyon Demokratiko presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said the unpaid P203 billion Marcos estate tax if recovered by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), will be sufficient to support the government’s cash aid program for Filipinos who need financial assistance amid the COVID-19 pandemic and rising oil prices.
At the presidential debate organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday night, Moreno said collecting the multibillion tax obligation from the heirs of the late former dictator Ferdinand Marcos will boost state coffers and fund critical programs to alleviate the plight of the people worsened by rising fuel costs.
More importantly, he added, the unpaid Marcos estate tax can fund the rollout of the 50-percent cut on excise taxes on petroleum products and electricity that the Manila Mayor plans to implement if elected president.
Moreno two weeks ago committed to go after the P203 billion in unpaid estate taxes of the Marcoses. He is so far the only candidate who has declared that he would do so if he wins the presidency.
“Umasa kayo mga kababayan, yung isang pamilyang may utang na P203 billion na estate tax, sisiguraduhin natin sisingilin ko ‘yun, kukunin ko ‘yung P203 billion na ‘yun at ibibigay ko sa magsasaka, ibibigay ko sa driver bilang ayuda ng taumbayang nangangailangan ng tulong ngayon,” the local chief executive said during the Comelec debate, referring to the family of presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., who failed to attend the debate.
With these funds, Moreno pointed out, the government can sustain “ayuda” or financial aid for individuals and sectors hard hit by the pandemic.
More importantly, he added, the unpaid Marcos estate tax can fund the rollout of the 50-percent cut on excise taxes on petroleum products and electricity that the Manila Mayor plans to implement if elected president.
“Kung iatras ko ang buwis ng krudo at kuryente at 50 percent, we are going to lose P65 billion. Now, mayroon akong P203 billion minus the P65 billion, marami pang daan-daang bilyon na pwede nating maibigay sa tao,” stressed Moreno.
Addressing the audience and televiewers of Comelec’s “Pilipinas Debates 2022: The Turning Point” held at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City, Moreno said: “Hindi po fake news ang ating hinahabol na estate tax na P203 billion; Supreme Court ruling po ‘yun with finality––singilin na lang.”
“Hindi po fake news ang ating hinahabol na estate tax na P203 billion; Supreme Court ruling po ‘yun with finality––singilin na lang.”
In a letter addressed to Aksyon Demokratiko Chairman Ernest Ramel dated March 14, BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay confirmed that the BIR had sent a written demand to the Marcos family in December 2021 to pay their estate taxes liability worth P203 billion.
Dulay informed Ramel in the letter that “the BIR did send a written demand to the Marcos heirs on December 2, 2021, regarding their tax liabilities.”