Isko Moreno open to filing charges over Marcos' P203 billion tax debt

SAN JUAN, Batangas — Presidential candidate and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno on Friday said he was open to filing charges against the Marcos family over their P203 billion estate tax debt.

“Well, if that is the normal course of law, why not?” Moreno explained in an ambush interview.

“Because paano ka naman magbabayad… next time sisingilin kita ng buwis. Halimbawa, sabihin ko, 'Uy mag bayad ka ng buwis.' Tapos ang sasabihin mo sa akin, 'Bakit ako sinisingil mo? ‘Yung isang malaki hindi mo sinisingil,” he added.

Moreno issued the remark when sought for comment if he would file charges against the Marcoses if he wins the presidential race.

This was after retired Supreme Court (SC) Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said the family could be criminally liable if they fail to pay the tax.

“If that will be the only other course, why not?" Moreno reasoned. "But in the meantime, as chief executive... we must implement our own laws in our own land. There must be certainty and predictability.”

He added, “I will cross the bridge when I get there.”

Moreno said that he did not see his calls for the payment of their estate tax debt as an attack as what he had stated was a fact.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue also said it had sent a written demand to the Marcos family regarding their tax liabilities last year.

For his part, Marcos said that there was "a lot of fake news involved" in the issues regarding his family's ill-gotten wealth

GMA News Online had sought the Marcos camp's comment on Moreno's latest statement but they have yet to reply as of posting time. — DVM, GMA News