Start with ‘uncontestable’ P23 billion Marcoses owe, Koko urges BIR

The Bureau of Internal Revenue can start by collecting the original P23 billion amount from the P203 billion in unpaid estate taxes owed by the Marcos family, Senator Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III suggested Wednesday.

The lawmaker issued the remark after incoming BIR chief Lilia Guillermo said she would request that President-elect Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. be a "role model" by paying the tax liabilities owed by his family. 

"Very good idea...They will be a 'success' only if the party cooperates and pays. Eh di [why not] start with the principal or the uncontestable amount, P23 [billion]?" Pimentel said in a text message shared with the reporters.

Pimentel, who is set to join the minority bloc in the 19th Congress, also prodded the media to pressure Guillermo about the issue, but also said that for now, she must be given time to act.

"Let us first wait for her to assumer her position as BIR commissioner then monitor her actions," Pimentel said.

Earlier, Guillermo said that the tax collection agency would comply with the court decisions on the matter.

She also said that she has not discussed the issue with Marcos, who named Guillermo, currently the assistant governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, to be the BIR chief under his administration.

In a previous interview, Pimentel said he would still pursue a Senate investigation against the BIR's alleged inaction on the Marcos family's billions worth of unsettled estate taxes.

In the 18th Congress, Pimentel filed a resolution calling for a Senate inquiry into the matter. However, it was filed only in April when the 18th Congress was on break for the 2022 national and local elections campaign.

Earlier, the BIR said it had sent a written demand to the Marcoses regarding their tax liabilities amounting to P203.819 billion last year.

On March 30, the Department of Finance said the BIR continued to demand that the Marcos family settle their estate tax debt.

Documents from the Supreme Court showed that the assessment of multi-billion estate taxes already became final and executory in 1999.

Senator Imee Marcos claimed that her family had not received any communication from the BIR.

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

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