Carpio to Marcos: Pay taxes before asking for votes

Dagupan City, Pangasinan - Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio urged former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to pay at least P23 billion worth of estate taxes instead of lying to the Filipino people.

Carpio was referring to the 1999 Supreme Court ruling ordering the Marcos family to pay P23 billion of an estate tax, specifically Bongbong in his capacity as the administrator of the estate of his late father, dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

"May is the month we pay our taxes. It is in our DNA, we pay our taxes because taxes are the lifeblood of the nation. Sinasabi nila 'di pa tapos ang desisyunan, that is a lie," Carpio said in a news conference.

"We must demand that before he asks for a single vote of the Filipino people, he must pay his estate tax. You must lead an example to the public," Carpio added.

Carpio said a public official who cannot even pay proper dues to the nation does not deserve a single vote.

"How can you give a vote to someone who does not pay his taxes?" Carpio asked.

Turn the tide

Meanwhile, Carpio and fellow 1Sambayan co-convenors and former Supreme Court Associate Justice Conchita Carpio Morales, and lawyer Howard Calleja were confident that Robredo and running mate Senator Kiko Pangilinan could still turn the tide even if they are still trailing in pre-election polls a month before election day.

"I would rather look at attendance in rallies because these people go there in droves of their own volition. These are the ones who will vote on election day. Those asked in surveys may not necessarily vote on election day," Carpio said.

"Surveys do not dictate election results," Morales added.

Calleja, for his part, said efforts to pair Robredo with other vice presidential bets proved her campaign was gaining momentum.

"If the surveys were true, we won't have RoSa or other combinations," Calleja said.

He was referring to efforts pairing Robredo with other vice presidential bets Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and Senate President Vicente Sotto III. — DVM, GMA News