TOTO LOZANO/Presidential Photo
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday called on the country鈥檚 richest billionaires to pay their taxes correctly to contribute in curbing corruption in the country.
鈥淢agbayad lang kayo nang tama (Just pay your taxes properly). I promise you, there will be no corruption,鈥� Duterte said in his speech during the launch of Bureau of Internal Revenue鈥檚 tax campaign for 2017 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City.
鈥淜ayo talagang Pilipino by heart, correct collection and correct spending鈥� Basta kung ano ang binayad ninyo (Whatever you pay), the spending will be there for you to see,鈥� he added.
The President also urged BIR employees not to tolerate corrupt taxpayers.
鈥淭he first whiff or suggestion of corruption, na manghingi, sampalin at murahin ninyo (slap and curse them),鈥� he added.
In an earlier speech in Malacanang before proceeding to the BIR event, Duterte used profanities as he urged big businessmen to pay their taxes.
鈥淢as gusto ko ang ganito (I prefer it this way) rather than face a crowd of millionaires and billionaires asking for more. I鈥檓 not comfortable with them. That鈥檚 why pupunta ako sa BIR (I鈥檓 going to BIR) and I鈥檓 about to face the big鈥攕abihin ko talaga (I鈥檒l tell them) just pay your taxes,鈥� he said.
鈥淧i** bumayad kayo, kung 鈥榙i papatayin ko kayo (Pay up or else I鈥檒l kill you). You pay your taxes and pay it correctly because we need it to run the government,鈥� the President added. JE/rga