Sen. Joel Villanueva was also disappointed with the state’s sudden pursuit of online sellers.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 11) — The government should prioritize collecting the ₱50 billion worth of unpaid taxes from Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators or POGOs instead of pressuring Filipino online sellers to settle their taxes amid the coronavirus pandemic, opposition lawmakers said Thursday.
In a statement, Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Thursday raised the issue of lax treatment of POGOs which were allowed to operate as non-essential businesses under the enhanced community quarantine even as they failed to settle their dues in the past years.
“Imbes na online sellers, baka pwedeng singilin muna ang mga POGO…hindi yung dagdag-perwisyo pa sa sarili nating mga kababayan na kaunti na nga lang ang kita para pandagdag-gastos sa pamilya nila,” Hontiveros said.
[Translation: Instead of online sellers, maybe we should collect first from POGOs…instead of adding to the burden of our fellow Filipinos who are only earning so little to fend for their families.]
“Mayroon din silang (POGOs) mass testing pero tayo wala (They also had mass testing but we don’t),” she added, referring to reports of exclusive testing of POGO workers the past months, amid the government’s slow action in expanding COVID-19 testing to asymptomatic workers in various areas of the country.
“Dapat tutukan ng BIR ang POGO na may utang na ₱50 bilyon na tax last year pa. Ngayong COVID-19, pwede bang kapakanan ng mga kababayang Pilipino muna natin ang manguna?,” he said in a tweet, taking a swipe at the sector which employs Chinese nationals for offices in the Philippines.
[Translation: The BIR should be focusing on POGOs who owe ₱50 billion in taxes since last year. In the face of COVID-19, can we prioritize the welfare of our fellow Filipinos instead?]
“For many [Filipinos], online selling is the bread and butter as the Duterte administration remains a failure in providing sufficient aid and, decent jobs amid the crisis” GABRIELA Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas said.
“Kung tutuusin, dapat pa ngang suportahan ng gobyerno ang online sellers bilang bahagi ng stimulus ng ekonomiya,” Brosas noted.
[Translation: In fact, the government should even support online sellers who are part of the economic stimulus.]
In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque came to the defense of the BIR, insisting that the government is strictly monitoring POGO operations and penalizing those who fail to settle their obligations.
He then appealed to the public to understand the additional tax imposition, as the government only wants to generate additional revenue for its COVID-19-related measures.
”Sinisingil po natin sila, Senator Hontiveros. Hindi po natin sila pinalulusot. Hindi po sila pwedeng magbukas nang hindi nagbabayad ng kanilang buwis,” Roque said. “Trust me, lahat po pinagkukunan po natin para mabigay ang pangangailangan ng mga biktima ng COVID-19.”
On Wednesday, the BIR issued a memorandum asking online sellers to register and declare their past transactions before July 31 “to ensure that their businesses are registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 236 of the Tax Code, as amended, and that they are tax compliant.”
Dapat tutukan ng BIR ang POGO na may utang na P50B na tax last year pa. Ngayong COViD 19, pwede bang kapakanan ng mga kababayang Pilipino muna natin ang manguna? #PusoNaman
— Joel Villanueva (@senatorjoelv) June 11, 2020
[Translation: We are going after POGOs, Senator Hontiveros. We are not letting them off the hook. They cannot resume operations if they have not paid their taxes. Trust me, we are looking for all platforms where we can support the needs of Filipinos displaced by the COVID-19 pandemic.]
Entities who fail to perform these activities on time shall be meted applicable penalties under the law and existing revenue rules and regulations, said the tax-collecting body.
