BIR's Henares says Quiboloy 'gifts' to Duterte subject to donor's tax

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares on Thursday said the properties and vehicles given to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy should be subjected to tax.

In a media briefing at the Department of Justice (DOJ), Henares, however, said Quiboloy, not Duterte, should pay the tax.

"Wala naman siyang liability," Henares said, referring to Duterte, who is running for president in the May 9 elections. "Ang may liability ay iyong nagbigay."

"Kung sino man iyong nagbigay, mayroon silang dapat bayaran na donor's tax," Henares said after the regular filing of tax evasion complaints at the DOJ.

She said under Civil Law, a person making a donation should execute a deed of donation, and the person has to formally accept the deed and have it notarized.

Duterte earlier disclosed on Quiboloy's TV program, "Give us this Day," that his children received three properties from Quiboloy, including one in Woodridge Subdivision in Ma-a, Davao City.

Quiboloy also bought a property in Royal Pines Subdivision in Matina, Davao City for Duterte.

Duterte made the admission to disprove the allegations made by vice presidential bet Senator Antonio Trillanes IV that he had properties undeclared in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

Quiboloy is the founding leader and executive pastor of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, The Name Above Every Name, which was founded in Davao City in 1985.

In Duterte’s 2014 SALN, it was indicated that he acquired two residential properties in Maa in 1997 and 1999 and three in Matina purchased in 1998, 2005, and 2007.

Aside from properties and vehicles, Duterte said that Quiboloy also helped him get rid of his sweaty hands by linking him to US-based doctor Martin Cooper, who was also the neurosurgeon of Elizabeth Taylor.

Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas, one of Duterte's rivals in the upcoming elections, earlier said Duterte violated the law when he accepted Quiboloy's "gifts."
The mayor's camp, however, insisted there was nothing wrong with accepting properties and cars from the pastor. —KBK, GMA News