PJ asks Davide to explain income tax discrepancies

CEBU, Philippines - One Cebu gubernatorial candidate, third district Rep. Pablo John Garcia yesterday asked his opponent, former Cebu City councilor Hilario Davide III of the Liberal Party, to explain   his income tax paid at the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Garcia earlier challenged Davide to show their income tax returns after one of his volunteers asked the anti-graft office to conduct lifestyle check.

Garcia said that a close friend of Davide tipped him that the latter paid P16,000 of his income tax in 2010 and P25,000 in 2011.

"Buot ba niyang patoohon ang mga tawo nga masuportahan niya ang iyang lifestyle nga mao ra na iyang gibayran nga tax?" Garcia said. (Is he trying to make people believe that he has supported his lifestyle now but paid only that amount of taxes?)

Garcia said that a barangay captain is even paying higher taxes out of his little amount of honorarium compared to Davide who owns a house, cars and whose children are studying in prestigious schools.

"How do you support your lifestyle on the basis on that kind of taxes paid?" he asked.

Garcia recalled that during the 2010 State of the Nation Address, President Benigno Aquino III hit some professionals such as lawyers and doctors for not declaring exact income thus stealing taxes from the government.

Aquino is set to come to Cebu on Friday to endorse LP candidates in Cebu City and the Province including Davide.

"Duna ba siya'y nawong i-atubang sa iyang presidenti nga niingon nga nangawat mo sa gobyerno kung di mo mobayad og hustong buhis?" Garcia said. (Can he still face his President who said one would be stealing from government if he does not pay the correct taxes?)

Garcia challenged Davide to be transparent whether he denies or admits his allegations.

"If he denies that its P16,000, is it more, is it less? If he denies its P25,000, is it more or is it less? If he admits, then he has to explain how he is supporting his lifestyle?" Garcia said.

Garcia said that if Davide, through his volunteer, is asking for lifestyle check, it would be better if it is reality check.

"Imo ba gibayran ang gobyerno sa saktong buhis, that's a clear reality check," Garcia added. (Have you been paying the government the right taxes?)

In asking the Office of  the Ombudsman-Visayas to look into the statement of assets, liabilities and networth of Garcia, a certain Roberto Letaba cited inconsistencies in the cost of the latter's residential house.

Letaba, a volunteer for Davide, said Garcia declared an acquisition cost of his house at P900,000 in 2008 but the value ballooned to P10.4 million as of December 31, 2011.

Garcia already explained the alleged discrepancies cited by Letaba, saying that what was acquired for P900,000 was the lot with no road-right-of-way (RROW).

Garcia said the house was built through a P10 million loan from a bank in 2008 and that he has paid P14,000 of real property tax for the said house.

Davide, in response, criticized Garcia for turning the table and throwing issues at him.

"Before PJ has the right to ask from me regarding my ITR, he better explain his SALN first," said Davide.

Davide said that Garcia should show his SALN first and prove "how he would be able to pay his amortization for his mansion and luxury vehicles if he wanted us to believe that all these were acquired through his bank loans given his income is anchored only from his compensation as a congressman."

If then the legislator would be able to show his SALN and back his claim that he can pay his loans through his salary as a legislator, Davide said he would be open to show his ITR. – (FREEMAN)