Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel (PNA File Photo)
MANILA – Senate President Vicente Sotto III is set to meet with Senator Aquilino Pimentel III to clarify the latter’s Senate resolution seeking to investigate the alleged uncollected PHP203.82 billion estate tax of the Marcos family.
In an interview during a campaign sortie in Romblon on Monday, Sotto, a vice presidential aspirant, said there is still time for the Senate to hold hearings depending on the content of the resolution.
"It cuts both ways eh. Ibig sabihin, kapag tinake-up mo yan, maaaring maging detrimental yan to some people, but also because of the media mileage, baka maging pabor (It cuts both ways. It means, if you take that up, it might be detrimental to some people, but also because of the media mileage, it might be in favor)," he said.
Sotto, the running mate of presidential aspirant Panfilo Lacson, said he is not sure whether to attend the hearing if it pushes through.
Not sure about the significance of the issue, Lacson said he will not also attend the inquiry.
"Ako, I will have to inhibit kasi yung involved dun sa issue na yon presidential candidate. So, this early sasabihin ko mag-iinhibit ako from attending kung anuman yung hearing (Me, I will have to inhibit because the one involved in the issue is a presidential candidate. So, this early, I should say that I will inhibit from attending whatever the hearing is)," he told the reporters.
Meanwhile, Senator Richard Gordon said the Senate resolution has nothing to do with timing.
"The public has the right to know whether taxes have to be paid, taxes have to be exacted and you know, the government has to enforce the law. Otherwise, people will stop paying their taxes," Gordon said in an interview with ANC.
After filing Senate Resolution No. 998 on March 28, Pimentel said there is an urgent and pressing need for the Senate to look into the reasons why the incumbent and past Bureau of Internal Revenue officials failed to collect the estate tax after almost 25 years. (PNA)
