MANILA, Philippines – As Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr evades questions on his family’s P203 billion estate tax debt, his supporters muddle the discussion by spreading false claims about Philippine tax laws if only to defend the non-payment.
Over the past days, Marcos’ supporters have amplified a comment from a political analyst that to charge the Marcos estate of tax would be to concede that it is not ill-gotten.
“That’s wrong logic, and a wrong understanding of the law. Because under the tax code, it doesn’t make a distinction whether the property is legally acquired or illegally acquired such as ill-gotten wealth. So as long as that property is yours at the time you die, pasok ‘yan sa gross estate mo at tatamaan ‘yan ng estate tax (that’s included in your gross estate and will be charged an estate tax),” said tax law expert Mickey Ingles over an episode of Law of Duterte Land Podcast.
When Ingles initially tweeted this comment, he was mocked as an “instant lawyer.” Ingles is the 2012 Bar topnotcher, teaches tax law at the Ateneo Law School, and authored a tax law reviewer used by students.
“I find it pretty funny, these people are more aware now of estate tax because of it,” said Ingles.
The Supreme Court in 1997 ordered the Marcoses to pay P23 billion in estate tax, an amount that is estimated to have reached P203 billion now because of surcharge, penalties and interest.
The other dominant defense of Marcos and his family is that estate tax is charged on the estate,...
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