Reactions

It’s a good thing that the PNoy Administration does not care much for popularity or being politically correct because judging from the reactions to the BIR “Shame” campaign “they have sown the wind and have reaped the whirlwind.” Fully convinced that putting Filipino tax cheats to “shame” is the best way to stir up their social conscience, the BIR has spent the equivalent of millions of pesos in developing and launching a series of advertising campaign that have been increasingly provocative and graphic.

Interestingly, I’ve noticed that every time a small murmur of dissent or howl of resentment is heard from the “innocents,” the BIR responds with an even more graphic and sweeping series of advertisements that stirs up even more resentment from the general public. The “I don’t care” and “here’s more” attitude of the BIR leadership particularly Kim Henares towards public reaction may have been understandable at the early stage of their campaign. But when one weighs the increasingly sweeping and sometimes faulty accusations made in the advertisements compared to the increasing response and resentment expressed by the public especially in social media, it could be said that the BIR advertisements stirred up the wrong people and made enemies of them.

Whatever the ultimate goal may be, it is easy to conclude that the effort to shame people, shamed the wrong people (actually offended) and they are now expressing their anger. The sweeping generalization has harvested a general resentment: Why does this government communicate in such a way that suggest most Filipinos are corrupt, crooked or criminals? Early on when PNoy made the statement: “Hindi kami corrupt” a number of people I knew reacted by saying “Kami rin Mr. President.” On what social-psycho science is the BIR’s Ad Agency basing its belief, that a multi-million peso advertising shame campaign will shame criminals into paying their taxes?

In the light of recent events where the Commission on Human Rights is investigating the Mayor of Tanauan, Batangas for putting to shame a man who was caught in the act, with the stolen goods in hand, who willingly and publicly confessed his crime, one has to wonder if the CHR will also look into the probability that the shame campaign of the BIR also qualifies as “Human Rights violations” since it is cruel and unusual to advertise “suspects” even before a proper notification, investigation and a hearing on the matter. Unlike the Tanauan Tuyo thief they have yet to catch a crook red handed but have already advertised such negative reports or suspicions of tax evasion.

From what I know of certifiable criminals, shame never factors into their decision or regret. Tax evaders cheat to get ahead, to be competitive against even bigger tax cheats, to make a profit or because they were advised, aided and abetted, by those who should have: a) told them otherwise, b) prevented them from doing so, and c) arrested them for refusing to obey. To them it is a business decision, an option or a choice.

As idealistic as the administration and the BIR may be, they have to remember the epigram “Rome wasn’t built in a day”. Coming from generations of families and businesses where “Tax Evasion” was the norm or was a given,

[ in a country where Filipinos are convinced that cheating the government is a patriotic act of minimizing the greed of politicians and government officials who have stolen billions of taxpayers money, plus the undeniable fact that government has resorted to excessive taxation instead of sound fiscal regulation, you will ultimately reap what you sow. ]

Biblically speaking, sweeping generalizations such as the BIR advertisements qualify as “bearing false witness.” If the data that the BIR print or suggests as basis of suspicion or accusation is accurate, then their failure to immediately charge the parties concerned is tantamount to omission or knowingly not doing their job. Why advertise the bureau’s suspicion? Incidentally, a few people have also raised the fact that when the BIR calls citizens for an audit or interview, it is the citizen that needs to prove their innocence instead of the BIR showing the factual basis of suspicion or proving them guilty.

Yes we should all live in a society where all share in the burden of taxation and governance but having stated our history and reality in the realm of taxation, Kim Henares should start by cleaning up her own “house” meaning the BIR. With so much creativity being put into their advertisements, perhaps its time for the BIR to creatively liberate the “slaves” of corrupt BIR officials who blackmail guilty businessmen and tax evaders. Invest some creative juices on how to take away “discretion” and technical manipulation from BIR officials, Why hound the Taxpayer only, hound the BIR people who are the equivalent of account executives and investigate culpability. Create a website or anonymous system for reporting extortionists within the agency. Yes, it takes years in court, but if the BIR is willing to shame Tax Cheats, then they should be more than willing to publicly humiliate the criminals from within. In other words, try doing some of the work especially that which involves cleaning up the bureau.

Sorry but the shame campaign has not worked on the shameless tax evaders, instead it has insulted the real taxpayers and that is the real shame!

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Businessmen from Tacloban have been sharing their disappointment and the apparent hypocrisy of companies and institutions who during the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda issued motherhood statements of compassion, unity and support for the victims of Yolanda. These statements and commitments certainly gave many people hope and a reason to stay on in Tacloban to face the long, slow recovery.

But only four months after the Super Storm, whatever goodwill and compassion was expressed has all but disappeared as far as some banks, insurance companies, product distributors and manufacturers are concerned. It seems, those who promised to help were doing so only in the heat of the moment or because there were lights and cameras in the place. Apparently, some banks have been calling in payments for debts, issuing notices of penalties or foreclosure while insurance companies have been dragging their feet on claims, finance companies won’t make adjustments on terms and numbers. The truth, my friends, is that Compounded Interests is now the terms of engagement in Tacloban.

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