By Arjane Faith Paala

PHOTO: Rappler

“The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) should file a criminal case against the Marcos family if they still refuse to settle their P203 billion estate tax,” urged the former Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) commissioner.

According to ex-PCGG commissioner Ruben Carranza, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. may get away with the said liability if he wins the presidential elections on May.

“May urgency ang pag-file ng criminal case dahil kapag naging presidente si Marcos Jr., mas mayroon siyang kapangyarihan na mas patagalin pa yung kaso, at gamitin yung poder ng pagiging presidente para huwag nang bayaran yung utang niya sa Pilipinas,” emphasized Carranza.

He said that Supreme Court rulings in 1997 and 2003, stating that assets owned by the Marcoses are considered “ill-gotten wealth” and that the family had an excise tax of P23 billion, are both final and executory.

“Supreme Court decisions are part of the law of the land, which the executive has to enforce and respect. Ayaw respetuhin ni Marcos Jr. ang batas, ayaw respetuhin ni Marcos Jr. ang Supreme Court decision, anong klaseng kandidato yan?” Carranza pointed out.

Moreover, the former commissioner refuted false claims and said that Marcos and his mother, Imelda Marcos, are responsible for the tax liabilities as they were co-administrators of the late Ferdinand Marcos Sr.'s estate.

“Ibang klase ang mga Marcos. They're pretending that they have no tax liability at all. Ang claim nila na under litigation pa tong mga ari-arian nila, which is not true. Ang mga Marcos, they are not above the law. Now is the time to show that,” he stressed.

Carranza further slammed the family: “Itong tax case, pinatagal yan ng mga Marcos… Kung ano-anong mga argumento ang ginamit. Pagkatapos, noong natalo na sila, ayaw naman sumunod doon sa kaso na sila mismo ang nag-file.”


Edited by Kyla Balatbat