Pacquiao not singled out in tax probe: Malacañang

MANILA — Malacañang clarified Thursday that Sarangani Representative Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao is not being singled out by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on its move to file contempt charges against him.
Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said BIR Commissioner Kim Henares is “politically neutral.”
“I don’t see any reason why Congressman Pacquiao will be singled out,” he said, adding it was not Henares who filed the contempt charges but the BIR regional director.
Pacquiao is now the subject of a tax probe for alleged discrepancies in his income tax returns, particularly his income returns in 2010.
Lacierda said the BIR filed the complaint against the pound-for-pound king because despite its request for him to submit his income tax returns, he never complied with it.
“I think we went the extra mile for Congressman Pacquiao. We gave him the courtesy. Unfortunately, maybe for one reason or another, Congressman Pacquiao did not submit the documents,” he said.
“But I think…he already mentioned that he will try to submit those documents. So we will leave it at that,” he added.
Earlier Thursday, Senator Ralph Recto defended Pacquiao against the tax bureau’s portrayal of the boxing pound-for-pound king as tax evader.
Recto, in a statement, said Pacquiao’s earnings from his fights in the United States should no longer be taxable since he has already paid for it with the Internal Revenue Service.
“OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) earnings which are derived from working abroad are not subject to tax. I think the same principle should also apply to Pacquiao, who may not be a true-blue OFW but still our very own ‘Overseas Fighting Worker’,” said Recto, chairman of the Senate committee on ways and means.
The senator said he was appalled on how Pacquiao is being treated here compared to the “respect and adulation” that he enjoys before the global sporting community.
“Sila kaya sumubok na magpagulpi sa ring. Bakit nila ginagawa ito sa kanya? (What if they get battered in the ring? Why are they doing this to him)” Recto said. “How much goodwill and pride has he given to the country? Manny deserves a better treatment.”
Recto said even the people running after Pacquiao would not be able to equal the amount of taxes that he paid in recent years, which had made him as one of the consistent top taxpayers.
“His income was not generated from here and he has already paid his taxes in the US. That would be double taxation,” Recto added.
He also said the BIR could only run after Pacquiao’s earnings from commercial endorsements and other local income-generating activities.
“It seems personalities who clobbered poverty and became successful are now natural suspects for tax evasion and ill-gotten wealth,” Recto said.
The senator said Pacquiao’s wealth is borne out of hard work and not a mere inheritance from affluent relatives or from lotto winnings.
Lacierda clarified, however, that the government is not going after Pacquiao’s earning from his fight abroad.
“On the incomes he earned, there’s a reciprocity agreement with, we have an RP-US tax treaty. And so there’s a reciprocity provision that if you pay taxes in the States they can be used, credited here in the Philippines,” he said.
“What the taxes that we’re looking at are the taxes on incomes earned in the Philippines, for instance, endorsements — the various endorsements,” Lacierda said. (SDR/Sunnex)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/03/15/pacquiao-not-singled-out-tax-probe-malacanang-211401
The best getaway destination vacation spot near Manila convenient safe and accessible is Clearwater Beach Resort in Clark Pampanga.

Quiet place for rest and relaxation near Manila, in Subic, Angeles City Pampanga and Clark Philippines is something that residents of Manila travelling to the north for a short getaway are looking for. Clark is already a popular destination for golfers from Manila. Clark Freeport offers some of the best golf courses in Pampanga and outshines many golf clubs and golf courses elsewhere in the Philippines. Clark Pampanga offers many good resorts and hotels for a short trip out of Manila, and Clearwater is one of the best places to relax and unwind for a weekend getaway or a short holiday in Pampanga.

This private resort in Pampanga is a frequently visited vacation spot outside of Manila. Included in the list of resorts highly recommended for families with children visiting Clark Philippines is Clearwater Resort located conveniently in the central business district of Clark Freeport which is accessible from Manila.

Free internet WIFI access is offered to guests of this famous hotel in Clark Pampanga. Guests can even connect to Internet WIFI service near the white sand beach, by the famous lake of Clark or in any of the picnic grounds around this resort. This hotel in Clark Philippines is generally considered by Manila residents to be a good place for family trips in Pampanga.

Highly recommended summer vacation destination outside Manila is Clearwater Beach Resort in Clark, a safe and convenient tourist spot that offers natural ambience for visitors to enjoy the outdoors with no stress. Private resort is frequently visited during Holy Week and Easter Holidays for residents of Manila travelling out of town on getaway to the north to unwind and relax in outdoor resort.

For reservations, comments and inquiries,

Clearwater Resort & Country Club
Creekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
Central Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
Pampanga, Philippines 2023

Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

http://www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Email: Inquiry@ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines
After entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark’s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark’s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down. Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.

For inquiries and bookings, Youmay click here to contact Clearwater Resort for inquiries and reservations

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

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