Atty. Caesar Dulay
Commissioner
Bureau of Internal Revenue
BIR National Office Building
Agham Road, Diliman, Quezon City

Dear Commissioner Dulay:

We, Filipino taxpayers, demand that the BIR collect the PhP203.819 Billion estate tax that the heirs of the late Ferdinand Marcos owe the Philippine government.  We believe the FACTS are clear and straightforward:

1. You sent a letter to Aksyon Demokratiko dated March14, 2022  confirming that the BIR sent a written demand letter to the Marcos family on December 2, 2021 to pay their estate tax liability of PhP203.819 billion.
2. We also know that the PCGG, in a letter addressed to Aksyon Demokratiko dated March 11, 2022, signed by Chairman John Agbayani and Commissioners Raymond Dilag and Rhoderick Parayno, stated that the BIR executed its final assessment on the Marcos properties as early as 1993 and that the Supreme Court decision on this unpaid tax became “final and executory” in 1997.

We can only conclude that the statement of the Marcos family that their estate tax liabilities are yet to be finalized is nothing but a brazen lie and that they have no intention of paying  this tax.  Their sense of entitlement, of being above the law, is reprehensible.

The Filipino people are suffering great deprivation at this time, when fuel prices have skyrocketed and the cost of transportation, food and basic goods and services has increased  tremendously.   Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez has publicly stated that the ayuda being given to the poorest of the poor of PHP200.00 per day for one year is not enough.  It is not clear whether the subsidies allocated to the transport and agricultural sectors, among the hardest hit by inflation, are funded.  The Dept.of Labor and Employment is also asking for a subsidy of PhP24 billion  for minimum wage workers. The government no longer has funds for this.    Think about what PhP203.819 billion from the Marcoses can do to help the Filipinos who are struggling to keep body and soul together!  

This is not the time to just send demand letters to a family that has flouted the law for 25 years. Now is the time for the BIR to act decisively and file a criminal case and  prosecute  Bongbong Marcos, as co-administrator of the Marcos estate, for failure to settle the family’s tax liability.  The law provides for it.  It can be done.  Just show political will and prove that there is justice in this country.   

Alliance of Women for Action Towards Reform (AWARE)

 

Solita C. Monsod

Maridol Mabanta

Narzalina Z. Lim

Imelda Nicolas

Phyllis Zaballero

Betty Nelle

Cleofe Llamas

Ching Escaler

Pilar Singian

Pinky Valdes

Josephine Guevara

Zorayda Amelia C. Alonzo

Mariel Tolentino

Zeny  Tanada

Ma. Resa S. Celiz