MANILA – Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III is set to meet with Senator Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel to discuss the latter’s Senate resolution seeking an inquiry into the PHP203.82 billion estate tax of the Marcos family which the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) allegedly failed to collect.

In a campaign sortie in Romblon on Monday, vice presidential candidate Sotto stated that the Senate has enough time to convene regarding the issue, depending on the resolution’s contents. Sotto himself stated that he is unsure of attending the hearing, should one push through.

“It cuts both ways eh. Ibig sabihin, kapag tinake-up mo yan, maaaring maging detrimental ‘yan to some people, but also because of the media mileage, baka maging pabor (It cuts both ways. It means, if you take that up, it might be detrimental to some people, but also because of the media mileage, it might be in favor),” he shared.

Likewise, Panfilo Lacson, the presidential candidate of the Lacson-Sotto ticket, stated that he will not attend an inquiry if one occurs.

He said, “Ako, I will have to inhibit kasi yung involved dun sa issue na yon presidential candidate. So, this early sasabihin ko mag-iinhibit ako from attending kung anuman yung hearing (Me, I will have to inhibit because the one involved in the issue is a presidential candidate. So, this early, I should say that I will inhibit from attending whatever the hearing is)”.

Meanwhile, Senator Richard Gordon said the Senate resolution has nothing to do with timing. He shared in an ANC interview that, “The public has the right to know whether taxes have to be paid, taxes have to be exacted and you know, the government has to enforce the law. Otherwise, people will stop paying their taxes”.

Pimentel, upon filing Senate Resolution No. 998 on March 28, said there is an urgent need to investigate why the past and incumbent BIR officials have neglected to collect the Marcos family’s estate taxes for almost 25 years.

Photo credit: Manila Bulletin