By Marvin Sy (The Philippine Star)
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=559633&publicationSubCategoryId=63
SAGAY CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr., who reportedly has spent the most in the ongoing campaign, is protesting the government’s tax collection on campaign spending.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), which is carrying out the collection of the tax, has indicated that it would most likely miss its target collection of P1.2 billion for this May’s elections.
Villar said he could not see how the BIR can talk about missing its target when the basis for the collection of the campaign tax is questionable.
“The truth is, I don’t know how they can make this compulsory when we did not have this before,” Villar said in Filipino.
The BIR issued Revenue Regulation 8-09 last year which proposes a five-percent withholding tax on the campaign expenses of candidates running in the May elections.
The campaign tax is not imposed on the contributors, donors or candidates but on the suppliers who rendered services or products for the campaign.
The BIR also requires all political candidates to register with the BIR as withholding agents.
Villar could very well be the biggest campaign spender but he has stated that he has violated no laws.
“What basis are they using in setting their target when this was not present in the past elections? We have to first ensure that what they are doing is legal,” Villar said.
However, in spite of his position against the tax, Villar said that he has no intention of violating any laws.
“We will pay the taxes but we want to make it clear that we are protesting this. What we want is a clear interpretation of the law,” Villar said.
Meanwhile, Villar paid a visit to influential pastor Apollo Quiboloy in Davao City last Thursday to seek his “blessings” and forgiveness for failing to show up at the “Sukatan 2010” presidential forum that Quiboloy hosted last March 9.
“I am happy and full,” Villar told reporters after his dinner meeting with Quiboloy, leader of the religious group the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Villar said he made an error of judgment for not showing up at Quiboloy’s forum.
Quiboloy, for his part, said he accepted Villar’s apology.
“Manny was able to explain his side and even went to the extent of flying just to see me,” Quiboloy said. – With Edith Regalado
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=559633&publicationSubCategoryId=63
SAGAY CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr., who reportedly has spent the most in the ongoing campaign, is protesting the government’s tax collection on campaign spending.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), which is carrying out the collection of the tax, has indicated that it would most likely miss its target collection of P1.2 billion for this May’s elections.
Villar said he could not see how the BIR can talk about missing its target when the basis for the collection of the campaign tax is questionable.
“The truth is, I don’t know how they can make this compulsory when we did not have this before,” Villar said in Filipino.
The BIR issued Revenue Regulation 8-09 last year which proposes a five-percent withholding tax on the campaign expenses of candidates running in the May elections.
The campaign tax is not imposed on the contributors, donors or candidates but on the suppliers who rendered services or products for the campaign.
The BIR also requires all political candidates to register with the BIR as withholding agents.
Villar could very well be the biggest campaign spender but he has stated that he has violated no laws.
“What basis are they using in setting their target when this was not present in the past elections? We have to first ensure that what they are doing is legal,” Villar said.
However, in spite of his position against the tax, Villar said that he has no intention of violating any laws.
“We will pay the taxes but we want to make it clear that we are protesting this. What we want is a clear interpretation of the law,” Villar said.
Meanwhile, Villar paid a visit to influential pastor Apollo Quiboloy in Davao City last Thursday to seek his “blessings” and forgiveness for failing to show up at the “Sukatan 2010” presidential forum that Quiboloy hosted last March 9.
“I am happy and full,” Villar told reporters after his dinner meeting with Quiboloy, leader of the religious group the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Villar said he made an error of judgment for not showing up at Quiboloy’s forum.
Quiboloy, for his part, said he accepted Villar’s apology.
“Manny was able to explain his side and even went to the extent of flying just to see me,” Quiboloy said. – With Edith Regalado
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