Duterte says Pacquiao owes P2.2B in back taxes

President Rodrigo Duterte stated that Senator Manny Pacquiao owes the government P2.2 billion in back taxes, an issue he brought up after Pacquiao accused his administration of corruption.

Duterte argued that evading tax payments is a form of corruption and that Pacquiao should "walk the talk" regarding his anti-corruption stance.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque clarified that the President's mention of the tax issue was not an act of revenge, but rather a reminder of Pacquiao's obligation.

Roque mentioned that the tax evasion case is an old case that has been with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

Duterte previously emphasized that in the US, failure to pay taxes can lead to imprisonment, though he clarified he was not personally pursuing Pacquiao for these obligations.

This statement follows a 2018 Court of Tax Appeals ruling that had halted the collection of a multi-billion peso tax deficiency against the Pacquiaos while their case for 2008 and 2009 tax liabilities was ongoing.