According to presidential candidate and Senator Panfilo Lacson, the Marcoses’ unpaid estate taxes could fully fund the government’s P18 billion National Broadband Program (NBP).
Lacson stated in a statement released Monday that he intends to pursue unpaid taxes to support the government’s critical initiatives, including the NBP, which is projected to improve the country’s internet connection significantly.
As the Department of Information and Communications Technology’s budget sponsor, he remembers pursuing total financing for the NBP during Senate negotiations on the country’s yearly budget.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) did not accept this request. The NBP received just P900 million, prohibiting the DICT from creating the fiber optic backbone, a critical component of high-speed internet services.
“‘Pag nagawa ‘yon (NBP) magiging steady ‘yung ating internet service. Sa kasamaang palad, lagi kong pinu-pursue ‘yon—P18-billion. Kayang-kayang hugutin ‘yon sa ibang mga ahensya na alam ko naman hindi magagamit sa tama. Ang problema na naman implementation,” Lacson said.
Lacson added that, with the country’s improved internet connection, the government could achieve digitalization of government services, one of his top priorities if he is elected in the forthcoming elections.
Lacson: Use Marcos family’s unpaid tax for Nat’l Broadband Program
As a result, he stated that he would seek any taxes owed to the government to fund future projects for the people’s benefit.
“Isipin mo P23-billion estate tax, umabot na ng P203-billion kasi sa tagal. Kasi every year, nadadagdagan ’yon, five percent… Bakit hindi pa rin nakokolekta?… Napabayaan nang napabayaan… Kung tayo digitalized, hindi aabot sa ganoon, nabayaran na,” Lacson said.
He was referring to the family of fellow presidential contender Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s estate tax debts, which the Bureau of Internal Revenue has failed to collect.
If Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. wins the presidency, Lacson previously warned that the government might not be able to collect the Marcos family’s tax bills.
When questioned specifically about the estate tax debt reportedly worth at least P200 billion at an earlier forum, Marcos said “a lot of fake news involved” in the issues concerning his family’s ill-gotten wealth.
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