PCGG denies Marcos’ spox remark that tax liabilities are under discussion —Isko’s camp

The Presidential Commission on Good Government has rebuffed claims made by the camp of former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that his family's P203.819 billion tax liabilities are under discussion, Aksyon Demokratiko said Tuesday.

In a letter, the PCGG said that while it is true that there was a “verbal understanding” between the PCGG and the Bureau of Internal Revenue in 2003, it may not be accurate to state that the agreement was to “determine with accuracy the fair and just tax base to be 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, and as early as 1997, the judgment on the tax case had become final and executory,” the PCGG said.

The letter was jointly signed by PCGG chairman John  Agbayani and commissioners  Raymond Anthony Dilag and retired Major General Rhoderick Parayno.

Last week, Marcos' spokesperson Victor Rodriguez said the PCGG has coordinated with the BIR regarding the Marcos family's unpaid debt.

Rodriguez said the pieces of property which were the subject of the tax case were still under litigation.

This prompted Aksyon Demokratiko party chairman Ernest Ramel Jr. to seek clarification from the PCGG by asking Agbayani to answer by “yes or no” if there is truth to the claim of Rodriguez.

For Ramel, the rebuff of Rodriguez’s claims is “another proof” that the camp of Marcos has again lied “about their family, including their ill-gotten wealth.”

“Sinungaling talaga at mahilig lang sa palusot at gumamit ng mabulaklaking Ingles si Atty. Vic Rodriguez at ang kampo ni Marcos Jr para lituhin at ilihis ang katotohanan sa mga Pilipino,” Ramel said in a message to reporters.

(They are really liars who keep avoiding the issue while Atty. Vic Rodriguez and the Marcos camp keep using flowery words to confuse and hide the truth from the public.)

“Humarap na kayo sa mga debate at huwag panay kasinungalingan ang gamitin ninyo. Hindi ba kayo nahihiya sa inyong gawain na magpakalat ng poot, pagkahati-hati at negatibong paraan ng kampanya sa pamamagitan ng kasinungalingan?” he added.

(Join debates and don’t keep lying. Are you not ashamed of what you are doing that you are spreading anger and division and a negative way of campaigning by spreading lies?)

GMA News Online sought comment from the camp of Marcos but has yet to receive a reply as of posting time.

Meanwhile, the party said the BIR has yet to reply to Ramel’s letter dated March 7, wherein he urged the BIR to renew demands for the Marcos family to pay the tax liabilities once every five years.

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno, the presidential bet of Aksyon, previously vowed to retrieve the Marcoses’ estate tax debt, proposing to use the money for aid, if he wins the presidential race.—AOL,GMA News