Gatchalian wants corruption issues fixed before pushing for estate tax amnesty extension

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday emphasized the need to address the corruption issues in tax-collecting agencies amid the push to extend the estate tax amnesty period.

In an interview with reporters, Gatchalian - the chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee - said he was “open” to extending the period in which to avail the estate tax amnesty.

However, he had “detected” a problem in the amnesty filing process.

“Maraming reklamo na pinapahirapan ang mga nag-aapply ng estate [tax amnesty], humihingi ng mga dokumento na wala naman sa ilalim ng batas. Marami rin lumalapit sa fixer. So gusto ko munang ma-imbestigahan ang corruption issues at mga allegations of na pinapahirapan ang mga applicants,” said Gatchalian.

(There are complaints that the application for estate tax amnesty was being made difficult. They're asking for documents that the law does not require. There are a lot of fixers. So I want to look into allegations of corruption and allegations that applicants are being given a hard time.)

“Let’s say in-extend natin pero may corrupt officials, hindi magagamot, pahihirapan pa rin nila ang mga applicants. At ‘yun ang nadetect ko when I was doing may consultations. So may corruption issue and allegations of fixers. Kasi hindi mawawala yan, whether you extend it now or you don’t. Hindi mawawala yan but open ako to extend,” he said.

(Let's say we extend it but there are corrupt officials, this won't cure it. They're still going to make things difficult for applicants. And that's what I noticed during my consultations. So there's corruption and allegations of fixers. Because that won't disappear, whether you extend it now or you don't. That won't go away, but I am open to an extension.)

The lawmaker said he is eyeing to conduct a Senate investigation into the supposed corrupt activities surrounding the tax amnesty filing as the government is expecting a P5 billion collection if the measure is passed.

“So, it’s not an issue na ayaw ng tao. It’s an issue na pinapahirapan sila,” he pointed out.

(So it's not a matter of people not wanting it. It's an issue of things being made difficult for them.)

Earlier in the day, the House Ways and Means Committee approved a bill extending the period in which to avail the estate tax amnesty - from June 15 this year to June 14, 2025. — DVM, GMA Integrated News