PCGG: Tax cases vs Marcoses resolved long ago
THE FAMILY of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos still owes the government billions of pesos in estate and income taxes, according to the agency tasked to recover ill-gotten wealth of Mr. Marcos and his cronies, as it debunked a claim that the tax case was still under litigation.
In a letter, the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) on Tuesday noted that as early as 1993, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) had issued its final assessment when it levied and sold 11 Marcos properties in Tacloban City.
“As early as 1997, the judgment on the tax case had become final and executory,” PCGG Chairman John A. Agbayani said in the letter-reply to Aksyon Demokratiko Chairman Ernesto M. Ramel, Jr., who had sought clarification on the tax lawsuit.
Aksyon Demokratiko, the political party of Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” M. Domagoso, who is running against Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos, Jr. in this year’s presidential race, provided reporters with a copy of the PCGG letter.
Mr. Ramel in a March 9 letter to PCGG earlier sought clarification whether the government had reached a deal on the taxes.
If there was indeed a deal, PCGG must disclose the details because these are a “matter of public interest,” he said. “If your answer is ‘No,’ then this is another proof that the camp of Marcos, Jr. has again lied as they always do in so many issues about their family, including their ill-gotten wealth.”
He said the Marcos family’s refusal to settle the taxes is a clear demonstration of “abuse of power, disregard for the laws enforced by the government and lack of respect for citizens who religiously pay the taxes imposed on them.”
Marcos lawyer and spokesman Victor D. Rodriguez did not immediately reply to a text message seeking comment.
He earlier said the pieces of property subject to the tax were still under litigation. He also said PCGG and BIR had agreed to wait for a decision on the case before collections were enforced.
In its letter, PCGG said there was a “verbal understanding” between it and BIR to collect estate taxes on all Marcos assets except those that had been seized by the government, as well as Swiss funds in escrow.
“It may not be accurate to state that the said agreement was ‘to determine with accuracy the fair and just tax base to be used in computing estate taxes, if any’ because as early as 1993, BIR already executed its final assessment when it levied and sold 11 real properties in Tacloban City,” it said.
PCGG said BIR in 1991 assessed the estate of Ferdinand Marcos P23.29 billion in estate taxes, P184.16 million in unpaid income taxes of Mr. Marcos and his wife Imelda for 1985 and 1986 and P20,410 in unpaid income taxes against the dictator for 1982 to 1985.
In 1993, BIR levied and auctioned off 11 Marcos properties in Tacloban after the family failed to file an administrative protest. The lots were awarded to the state in the absence of bidders, PCGG said.
The Supreme Court in 1997 denied a plea by Marcos, Jr. to void the levies as it ruled the tax assessments had become final and unappealable.
The P23-billion estate tax had ballooned to P203.8 billion due to interests and penalties after the Marcoses refused to pay it, Mr. Ramel said in a Viber message, citing computations by retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio T. Carpio in a Sept. 30, 2021 column for the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
“Twenty-four years after the Supreme Court affirmed the Court of Appeals decision, the Marcos heirs still have not paid the estate tax,” Mr. Carpio said at that time.
The former magistrate has called the supposed agreement “wrong, a falsehood and laughable.” “There is no such thing,” he told GMA News last week, adding that the Supreme Court ruling on the case had become final.
The younger Mr. Marcos, who is leading in presidential opinion polls, was convicted in 1995 for failing to pay taxes from 1982 to 1985 when he was governor and vice governor of Ilocos Norte.
The Commission on Elections has dismissed several lawsuits seeking to disqualify him from the presidential race, saying his failure to file income tax returns did not involve wicked, deviant behavior. At least five of the six dismissed cases were under appeal.
The Ateneo de Manila University’s Martial Law Museum last year said the Marcos family and their allies continue to benefit from the billions of pesos stolen from public coffers during his father’s dictatorship and “they continue to escape accountability for their actions.”
The dictator stole as much as $10 billion (P503 billion) from the Filipino people, according to government estimates, earning him a Guinness World Record for the “greatest robbery of a government.”
PCGG, created in 1987 to recover ill-gotten wealth of the family and their cronies, has recovered about P171 billion. — Norman P. Aquino and Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
Capital region kept at Alert Level 1 until end of March
MANILA, the Philippine capital, and nearby cities would remain under Alert Level 1 until March 31, according to the presidential palace.
Thirty-two other areas on the main Luzon island, 10 in the Visayas and five in Mindanao would also remain under the most relaxed lockdown level, presidential spokesman Jose Ruperto Martin M. Andanar said in a statement on Tuesday.
The Philippines is now at low risk from the coronavirus, health authorities said.
The daily coronavirus infections nationwide averaged at 559, and 162 for Metro Manila, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire told an online news briefing. “All areas, including those under Alert Level 2, are classified as low risk,” she said in Filipino.
She said the government was boosting vaccination efforts in areas under Alert Level 2 so these could ease to Level 1. About 1.4 million people were vaccinated on the fourth run of the government’s special vaccination drive against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Ms. Vergeire said about 6.5 million seniors and 8.8 million seriously ill people have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, while 1.9 million have received booster shots.
She said 1.23 million kids aged 5 to 11 and 9.7 million children aged 12 to 17 have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Ms. Vergeire said the Philippines had yet to record a case of Deltacron, a hybrid strain that combines both the Delta and Omicron variants. “The public should not worry because currently, we have yet to record a case of Deltacron, which is not yet considered as a variant of concern.”
“This is a transitional stage where we can go to the next level or to this new regime of alert level system. Alert Level 0 is not a final term yet,” she added.
Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III earlier said authorities might do away with the lockdown amid decreasing infections. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
Senate eyes letting foreign contractors bid for public works
THE SENATE is considering giving equal opportunity to both foreign and domestic bidders for public works projects to introduce new construction technologies and encourage innovation, according to the head of its economic affairs committee.
“There is a concern here that competition should be recognized and that there are valuable technical advantages to allowing foreigners, but of course, there’s great opposition to the entry of foreign contractors to the Philippines,” committee head Senator Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos told a hearing on Tuesday.
“It’s the reality that we’re quite behind in terms of construction technology and it may be well worth the risk to allow much more advanced contractors to come over. I think that’s the universal sentiment,” she added.
Senate Bill 1009 fine-tunes the decades-old in Commonwealth Act 541 by removing the prohibition on foreign contractors to bid for local public works projects. Ms. Marcos cited the need to balance development and protection of the local construction industry.
San Miguel Corp. Infrastructure Assistant Vice-President Melissa R. Encanto-Tagarda said the bill would open doors for new partnerships and joint ventures with foreign contractors.
“While there may be more competitors for contracts for public works, San Miguel may be able to take advantage of the expertise from foreign partners and contractors,” she told the hearing.
But Ms. Marcos said San Miguel is a large contractor and the effect may not be the same for smaller contractors.
“In this case, the foreign bidder can go on their own, without tapping a local contractor,” Ms. Marcos said.
Ms. Tagarda noted that foreign companies usually get a local partner when bidding for big local construction projects. “They would probably still want to get a local partner, one who will know the landscape of the country so that they’ll have a better feel of the regulatory environment of the Philippines.”
The Senate committee had sought inputs from defense agencies on a clause of the bill that gives preference not only to Filipino but also to American contractors, and no one else.
The construction industry contributes 16.6% to Philippine economic output. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan
54 more seafarers arrive home from Ukraine, repatriates now at 286
MORE FILIPINO seafarers affected by the war in Ukraine have arrived home, bringing the total number of repatriates to 286, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported on Tuesday.
The most recent group that arrived included 54 sea-based workers from four different vessels: MV Bolten Ithaki (14), MV Ithaca Prospect (7), MV Polar Star (12), and MV Riva Wind (21).
The DFA, in coordination with the Philippine Embassy in Budapest, has been monitoring 23 ships manned by Filipinos.
Two of the vessels, the Yasa Jupiter and MV Namura Queen, were hit by shelling in the Black Sea, leaving one Filipino injured.
Another 24 Filipinos were expected to arrive Tuesday, the department added.
Evacuation and repatriation efforts are also underway for another 97 seafarers who are still in Ukraine.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr., meanwhile, said on Monday that the Philippines is ready to welcome refugees.
He wrote on Twitter that “everyone who seeks refugee status will approach our Embassies whose job it is to receive them and start the process to get them accepted by DoJ (the Department of Justice).”
“This is what we are known for: taking in the wretched of the Earth,” he added.
More than 2.5 million Ukrainians have left their country following Russia’s invasion on Feb. 24, according to the latest United Nations refugee estimate. — Alyssa Nicole O. Tan
New Comelec head reassures ‘clean’ elections during ballot printing visit
THE NEWLY-appointed head of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday gave reassurance that the May 9 national and local polls will be “clean and credible” as stakeholders were finally allowed to physically observe the ballot printing process.
“Without compromising the security of the ballots and data cards, we will allow full access to the printing process,” Comelec Chairman Saidamen B. Pangarungan said at the ballot printing walkthrough at the National Printing Office in Quezon City.
Among those present were political party representatives and members of the media.
“I can assure you a clean and credible elections on May 9,” Mr. Pangarungan said.
The election body started printing ballots in January, but only recently allowed actual observation of the process, citing risks of coronavirus transmission.
Comelec held a virtual walkthrough of the printing office in January.
About 73% or 49 million of the 67.4 million total ballots have been printed as of Tuesday, Comelec Commissioner Marlon S. Casquejo, who also heads the election body’s printing committee, said at the event.
“We are on track with the printing of ballots because we print 24 hours and seven days a week” he added.
The National Printing Office churns out about 1.1 million ballots daily, according to Comelec Deputy Executive Director for Administration Helen C. Aguila-Flores.
“Comelec is catching up with the printing of test ballots to be used in testing the vote counting machines days before May 9 due to the delays due to a COVID surge in January,” Mr. Casquejo said. “This is also the reason why we had a late opening to the stakeholders.”
POLL DUTY TAX
Meanwhile, a senator on Tuesday urged the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Comelec to suspend the implementation of higher withholding tax on poll duty allowance for teachers.
“I ask that the BIR and the Comelec defer the collection of the 20% tax. Like most of our countrymen, our teachers are just beginning to recover from the scourge of the pandemic, which is why the timing of this tax increase is very wrong and cruel,” said reelectionist Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” N. Hontiveros-Baraquel in a mix of English and Filipino in a statement.
The withholding tax on travel allowance had increased by three times to 20% this election from 5% during the 2019 polls.
“Based on Comelec’s guidelines, BEI (Board of Election Inspectors) Chairpersons will get P7,000 in honorarium and P2,000 in travel allowance. Subjecting that to 20% tax will mean a net pay of a meager P7,200,” Alliance of Concerned Teachers Secretary-General Raymond D. Basilio earlier said.
“This is P1,350 lower than their 2019 net compensation of P8,550 after 5% tax was deducted from the P6,000 honorarium, P1,000 travel allowance, and P2,000 training allowance. The small increase in compensation of BEIs is being taken back with the huge and unreasonable 20% tax. Where is the justice there?” he added.
The group also noted that the current travel allowance rate, which supposedly covers expenses pre-elections, on election day, and post-elections may not be enough given increasing fuel prices.
Election service compensation should be exempt from tax collection, said Ms. Hontiveros. “The next best thing we can do is to keep it at 5%. It’s the least we can do for them. The 20% withholding tax is just too much.” — John Victor D. Ordoñez and Alyssa Nicole O. Tan
Tobacco traders warned against operating without license
TOBACCO TRADERS have been warned of being slapped with penalties if they operate without a license or registration from the National Tobacco Administration (NTA).
“Traders found guilty of doing so were subject to appropriate sanctions under the trading rules and regulations,” NTA Administrator Robert Victor G. Seares said during a virtual briefing on Tuesday.
Mr. Seares said the NTA is closely monitoring trading operations in the provinces, and ensuring proper documentation of tobacco acceptances or purchases and tobacco production.
Tobacco is mainly grown commercially in the Ilocos Region provinces in northern Philippines.
“We must know and understand the processes when giving licenses and other important documents to avoid difficulties when it comes to inspection,” Mr. Seares said as the NTA held an orientation on tobacco trading rules and regulations for personnel, tobacco buying stations, wholesale tobacco dealers, redrying plant operators, and field canvassers.
NTA Deputy Administrator for Operations Cesario G. Sambrana said traders and personnel should “comply with all the requirements for proper documentation and precise reporting of the tobacco leaves.”
The NTA regulation department has issued licenses to 28 trading centers, permit and authority to purchase to 14 wholesale tobacco dealers, permit and authority to redry licenses to three facilities, and certificate of authorities to 219 field canvassers. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson
Bangsamoro lawmaker files bill on solar energy use in region’s socialized housing projects
A BILL mandating the installation of solar energy facilities in socialized housing projects funded by the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) government was filed before its Parliament on Tuesday.
Parliament Member Amir S. Mawallil, author of Bill No. 178 or the Renewable Energy for Socialized Housing in the BARMM Act of 2022, said the proposed law is in line with the goal of both the national and regional governments to develop more renewable energy sources.
“Under the measure, the Bangsamoro Government will install solar energy systems in these units that will provide secure, clean, and environment-friendly power services in urban and rural areas, especially in settlements for the disadvantaged, the homeless, survivors of conflicts and atrocities, former combatants, and Internally Displaced Persons,” Mr. Mawallil said in a statement.
The bill includes a provision on acquiring easements from neighboring properties to ensure solar power access in existing and future housing projects.
Mr. Mawallil noted that under the BARMM budget, more than P3.2 billion has been allocated for various housing projects.
“These programs speak of the scale of construction in the upcoming months to provide socialized housing in the region — and of the scale of opportunity for promoting and developing the use of renewable energy in the implementation of these programs,” he said.
The biggest housing fund at almost P2.5 billion is under the Kapayapaan sa Pamayanan (KAPYANAN) program of the Office of the Chief Minister.
The Ministry of Human Settlements and Development has also allocated P671.65 million for affordable housing projects while the Ministry of Interior and Local Government has a P65-million housing budget for former combatants.
The bill is supported and co-authored by Parliament Members Baintan Ampatuan, Laisa Alamia, Rasol Mitmug, Jr., Suharto Ambolodto, Don Mustapha Loong, Rasul Ismael, Abraham Burahan, Sittie Shahara Mastura, and Paisalin Tago. — MSJ
DTI confiscates P1.4M worth of uncertified goods in Metro Manila
THE DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) has confiscated P1.4 million worth of uncertified products in the capital region in the first two months of 2022.
The DTI said in a statement on Tuesday that its Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB) confiscated 7,551 pieces of uncertified products after conducting random inspection activities within Metro Manila from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28.
The number of goods was higher than the 846 pieces of products worth P346,704 seized in the same period last year.
A total of 181 establishments in the National Capital Region were inspected, 100 of which were issued notices of violation for selling products without the necessary Philippine Standard (PS) mark and Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker as required by the government.
The seized products include low carbon steel wires, sanitary wares, television sets, cement, extension cords, electric blender, brake fluid, circuit breakers, helmets, plugs, socket outlets, unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC) pipes, rerolled steel bars, and other consumer products that need to undergo mandatory certification.
“The PS marks and ICC stickers are the guide and assurance of our consumers that the (local or imported) products they purchase are safe and conforming to the relevant Philippine National Standards mandated by the law,” Trade Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo said.
Trade Assistant Secretary Ronnel O. Abrenica said the increase in confiscated products was due to the recalibration of resources and refocus on regularly conducting enforcement and seizing operations.
“We kicked off the year strong and we will sustain this synergy to foster a heightened consumer protection in the country,” Mr. Abrenica said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
Peso rises as Russia-Ukraine talks progress
THE PESO strengthened versus the greenback on Tuesday following some developments in the diplomatic talks between Russia and Ukraine.
The local unit closed at P52.415 per dollar on Tuesday, gaining six centavos from its P52.475 finish on Monday, based on Bankers Association of the Philippines data.
The peso opened Tuesday’s session at P52.495 against the dollar, which was also its weakest showing. Meanwhile, its intraday best was at P52.33 versus the greenback.
Dollars exchanged increased to $1.01 billion on Tuesday from $806.55 million on Monday.
“The peso appreciated due to risk-on sentiment amid reports of positive developments in Russia-Ukraine talks,” a trader said in an email.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the negotiations with Russia went “pretty good”, Reuters reported. He said they have engaged with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett as part of a negotiation effort to end the war with Russia “with a fair peace.”
The discussions between Kyiv and Moscow are expected to continue this Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort in a Viber message said the peso tracked the gains in the local stock market.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index rose by 202.97 points or 2.98% to end at 7,019.92 on Tuesday, while the wider all shares index likewise rose by 55.58 points or 1.53% to 3,694.07.
For Wednesday, Mr. Ricafort gave a forecast range of P52.30 to P52.50 per dollar, while the trader expects the local unit to move within P52.25 to P52.50. — L.W.T. Noble with Reuters
Domagoso vows to improve Masbate’s infrastructure, utility services
PRESIDENTIAL candidate Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” M. Domagoso has promised residents of the island province of Masbate that he will address their concerns on infrastructure and utility services if he wins in May.
“We will make our rounds, townhall meeting here, townhall meeting there. We will go to the people and learn about their situation,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino in a statement.
“Like I did yesterday, I asked the people about their situation in Masbate and they said they have problems with electricity, internet, and access to potable clean water, plus farm-to-market road because there are still many dirt roads,” he said.
The Manila Mayor is currently campaigning in Bicol Region, considered a bailiwick of another presidential contender, Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” G. Robredo. The region is also home of the late Senator Raul S. Roco who founded Aksyon Demokratiko, whose standard bearer is Mr. Domagoso.
“Again, we will try to go as far as Albay and try to reach as many Bicolanos as much as possible and go around the country again. After this, I think we’ll be in the Visayas area,” Mr. Domagoso said. — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan
Former anti-communist official calls for extended Duterte term through revolutionary government
A FORMER official of the Philippine government’s anti-communist task force on Tuesday called for a revolutionary government (rev-gov), a move that would overturn the 1987 Constitution and install President Rodrigo R. Duterte as head of a new regime.
Retired military general Antonio G. Parlade, Jr., who served ass spokesman for the task force, made the call in a pro-Duterte rally in a major thoroughfare near the capital Manila, which was attended by only about 100 people.
During the rally, Mr. Parlade claimed that a revolutionary government is the only answer to curb alleged corruption in the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“We support [President Rodrigo] Duterte,” their banner read. “Rev Gov na.”
Mr. Parlade filed for candidacy in the 2022 presidential race but was later barred by the elections body due to a technical issue.
The former military official, who has been opposing anti-establishment calls, told the Commission on Appointments in 2020 that he does not believe in a revolutionary government.
In a statement, Palace spokesman José Ruperto Martín M. Andanar said Mr. Parlade’s call is part of his “guaranteed freedom of speech and expression.”
“However, as Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana directed the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the retired general’s call is better left ignored,” he said. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza