MANILA, Philippines (AP) -- Despite returning like a hero from beating Brandon Rios over the weekend, Manny Pacquiao said Tuesday he has no money to keep his promise to help typhoon victims because Philippine revenue authorities have frozen his bank accounts. The Bureau of Internal Revenue says Pacquiao hasnt proved he paid taxes in 2008-2009. It has assessed that Pacquiao, once one of the worlds highest paid athletes, owed 2.2 billion pesos ($50 million) in back taxes as of July. Pacquiao, the wealthiest member of the Philippine Congress, said Tuesday he borrowed over 1 million pesos ($22,700) to purchase relief supplies before his fight Sunday with Rios in Macau and will borrow more to keep his word to typhoon victims. Pacquiao said he plans to provide aid to more than 10,000 families. Fierce winds and tsunami-like storm surges from Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest typhoons on record, demolished entire communities and killed over 5,200 people when it ploughed through the central Philippines. More than 1,600 are missing. Pacquiao said he paid taxes in the United States following his victories against Ricky Hatton and Oscar de la Hoya and that a treaty prevents double taxation. A criminal case was dropped by prosecutors for alleged unpaid taxes in 2010, but the revenue authorities tax claims for the 2008-2009 are still pending. I appeal to them to remove the garnishment so that I can move and pay for my staffs salaries, Pacquiao told reporters in his southern hometown of General Santos city. I am not a criminal or a thief. He said his wifes accounts have also been frozen. Pacquiao said if he had not paid the right taxes in the United States, he would have been arrested during one of his visits there.
Posted on: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 08:45:03 +0000
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