President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday cleared business tycoon Lucio Tan of his past tax liabilities, saying he would “forever shut up” on the subject.
His statement came after Tan, chairman and chief executive officer of Philippine Airlines (PAL), offered an additional plane to fly home repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFW) from Kuwait.
“Mr. Lucio Tan, I’m going to shut up forever,” Duterte said in his speech welcoming 150 distressed OFWs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) in Pasay City. “Wala ka na marinig sa akin na salita na di ka nagbayad.”
[You will no longer hear me mention that you did not pay.]
The President was referring to PAL’s P6 billion in tax liabilities, which the company ρáíd in October last year.
“Okay na sa akin tapos na,” Duterte said. “Nabayaran mo naman yung mga taxes mo – at yung pinakita mo. And mind you, I am ready to protect every businessman kagaya ninyo.”
[It’s okay with me. It’s over and done with. You’ve already ρáíd your taxes – and what you have shown. And mind you, I am ready to protect every businessman like you.]
Duterte also assured Tan that nobody in his government would ask him for bribe money.
“Walang corruption dito sa gobyernong ito sabi ko nga sa inyo kung may maghingi sabihin niyo lang. Ipadala natin sa Kuwait. Ipapatay natin,” he said.
[There’s no corruption in this government. I’m telling you: If anyone asks you for a bribe, just tell me. We’ll send it to Kuwait to have them killed.]
Last year, Duterte gave Tan a 10-day ultimatum to settle PAL’s tax liabilities or else the government would shut down NAIA Terminal 2, which the airline has been exclusively using since 1999.
PAL, the country’s flag carrier, heeded Duterte’s warning and ρáíd the arrears within the deadline.
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His statement came after Tan, chairman and chief executive officer of Philippine Airlines (PAL), offered an additional plane to fly home repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFW) from Kuwait.
“Mr. Lucio Tan, I’m going to shut up forever,” Duterte said in his speech welcoming 150 distressed OFWs at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) in Pasay City. “Wala ka na marinig sa akin na salita na di ka nagbayad.”
[You will no longer hear me mention that you did not pay.]
The President was referring to PAL’s P6 billion in tax liabilities, which the company ρáíd in October last year.
“Okay na sa akin tapos na,” Duterte said. “Nabayaran mo naman yung mga taxes mo – at yung pinakita mo. And mind you, I am ready to protect every businessman kagaya ninyo.”
[It’s okay with me. It’s over and done with. You’ve already ρáíd your taxes – and what you have shown. And mind you, I am ready to protect every businessman like you.]
Duterte also assured Tan that nobody in his government would ask him for bribe money.
“Walang corruption dito sa gobyernong ito sabi ko nga sa inyo kung may maghingi sabihin niyo lang. Ipadala natin sa Kuwait. Ipapatay natin,” he said.
[There’s no corruption in this government. I’m telling you: If anyone asks you for a bribe, just tell me. We’ll send it to Kuwait to have them killed.]
Last year, Duterte gave Tan a 10-day ultimatum to settle PAL’s tax liabilities or else the government would shut down NAIA Terminal 2, which the airline has been exclusively using since 1999.
PAL, the country’s flag carrier, heeded Duterte’s warning and ρáíd the arrears within the deadline.
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