Incoming BIR chief to ask Marcos to be 'role model' in paying taxes

"Puwede ho ba maging role model kayo?"

(Can you be a role model?)

Incoming Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) chief Lilia Guillermo said Wednesday that she would request this to President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. in connection with the more than P203-billion tax liabilities of the Marcos family.

In a television interview, Guillermo was asked about the issue, and in response, she said she has to check first the documents about the tax liabilities. If there is a need to collect tax, she said she would tell Marcos to be a "role model" in paying taxes.

"Actually sabi ko nga, I need to know details, I need to know... Alam mo ang sasabihin ko lang naman sa kanya kung saka-sakaling I have to collect or BIR has to collect, sabihin ko sa kanya this amount, hindi naman po talaga kayo ang magbabayad, it's the estate," Guillermo told ANC.

(As what I've said, I need to know details, I would just tell him that if ever BIR has to collect the taxes, it's not him who will pay for the amount but the estate.)

"'Puwede ho ba maging role model kayo?' 'Yun ang magiging ano eh. The Marcoses will now pay their taxes because nag-comply sa batas. It came from the Supreme Court, it's final and executory so, 'yun lang naman ang sasabihin ko sa kanya pero I should have the correct data," she added.

(Can you be a role model? The Marcoses will now pay their taxes because they comply with the law. It came from the Supreme Court, it's final and executory so that's what I will tell him but I need to have correct data first.)

According to Guillermo, she and Marcos did not discuss yet the matter. Marcos had named Guillermo, currently the assistant governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, to be the BIR chief under his administration.

"Walang ganoong pag-aalinlangan because I met the President himself. Wala siyang sinabi tungkol doon," Guillermo said.

(He has not said anything about it.)

Guillermo said she is hoping that she will be able to see the documents on Monday next week as there will be an expected turnover from the outgoing BIR leadership on that day.

If ever, Guillermo said the amount would really help in the BIR's collections.

"We have to convert those properties to cash para madagdag sa tax collections ng BIR. Give me the time to go over the documents. How much are we talking about? Hindi ko alam kung talagang P200 billion ‘yan, and maybe if that’s really the amount, imagine it will help really in the collections of BIR,” she explained.

(We have to convert those properties to cash and add it to the agency's tax collections. Give me the time to go over the documents, how much are we talking about? I don't know if it's really P200 billion and maybe if that's really the amount, it will help really in the collections of BIR.)

Earlier, she guaranteed that the tax collection agency would comply with the court decisions on the alleged unsettled tax liabilities of the Marcos family.

GMA News Online has reached out to the Marcos camp for comment but it has yet to reply as of posting time.

A Supreme Court document showed that the ruling to affirm the Court of Appeals decision on the Marcos estate tax in 1994 was final and executory and that the deficiency income was unappealable.

The BIR sent a demand letter to the Marcoses last year regarding their tax deficiencies. The Department of Finance said the BIR continues to demand the settlement of the estate tax debt of the Marcos family.

Incoming Executive Secretary Attorney Vic Rodriguez had maintained that the properties, which were the subject of the tax case, were still under litigation.

Rodriguez also assured the public that Marcos, as the incoming president, would implement and follow Philippine laws in relation to the issue. —KG, GMA News