Palace: Duterte wants POGOs to pay taxes first

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BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR and RAYMOND AFRICA

PRESIDENTIAL spokesman Harry Roque yesterday said President Dutette wants Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) to pay taxes they owe government first before talks of reopening or even imposing higher taxes are discussed.

Roque issued the statement in the wake of a call by Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri that government should consider imposing higher taxes on POGOS instead of taxing small time online sellers. “Well, never say never po. Pero for now, ang gustong mangyari ng Presidente, magbayad muna sila ng kanilang deficiency taxes bago sila payagang  mag-operate muli (Well, never say never. But for now, what the President wants is for them to pay off their deficiency taxes first  before they are allowed to operate again),” he said, referring to the POGOs.

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Malacanang, since the easing of the community quarantine, said POGOs would be allowed to resume operations if they pay taxes they owe government, which some lawmakers said would reach as much as P50 billion.

The taxes to be collected form POGOS would be used to augment funds used to address the coronavirus disease (COVID- 19). Roque reiterated that Malacanang is only implementing the law in requiring online sellers to register with the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

He also reiterated that only those earning P250,000 or up in a year are required to pay taxes under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law. PANGILINAN WEIGHS IN  Sen. Francis Pangilinan called on government to run after bigtime tax evaders and smugglers if it wants additional revenues to fight COVID-19 and spare small  online sellers from being taxed amid the pandemic.

Pangilinan said government should instead find ways to help small online sellers rather than impose taxes on them since most of them have lost their permanent jobs due to the lockdowns imposed to stop the spread of the virus.

“Imposing taxes amidst a pandemic, joblessness, and poverty is insensitive, unjust, and heartless. Why train your sights on those who strive to earn a decent living amidst this COVID-19 pandemic? Government should instead train its sights on smugglers and big tax evaders such as POGOs. This is ill-timed when the people are in the middle of hardships. Let us not add to their burden,” Pangilinan said.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said POGOS have only paid the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. around P7 billion in franchise taxes. He said POGOs have not settled their tax arrears with the Bureau of Internal Revenue that now amounts to P70 billion.

“These POGOs obviously owe the government in franchise taxes each time they operate and this has been an old issue because of the many alibis of the POGOs, reason why the BIR cannot collect taxes from them,” Gatchalian told radio dzBB.

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