Difference between revisions of "Sarangani Province, Philippines"

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Sarangani Province, Philippines (view source)

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==[[Sarangani News]]==
==[[Sarangani News]]==
'''Pacquiao told: Submit tax records or face jail time'''
'''Two Bible preachers: One unknown, the other famous'''
*Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2012/03/30/pacquiao-told-submit-tax-records-or-face-jail-time-213928
*Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/253457/news/metromanila/two-bible-preachers-one-unknown-the-other-famous
*Friday, March 30, 2012
*April 1, 2012 3:04am
:by  Virgil Lopez/ECV/Sunnex
:by  EARL VICTOR L. ROSERO






MANILA -- Sarangani Representative and Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao can get away with contempt charges filed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) if he can submit documents in connection to the huge drop in his tax remittances.
He boarded the air conditioned bus at the stop under the EDSA Cubao MRT station. Respectably dressed he was in leather shoes, black slacks, and light blue long-sleeved shirt complete with a necktie.He walked down the aisle, stood at the mid-section of the bus and then pulled out of his black bag – a Bible.
The unknown man, Jessie, spoke clearly though he did not or could not make eye contact with the other passengers – most of whom tried to ignore him but the sense of hearing cannot be shut down.


Pacquiao, who has since cried foul over the case, was challenged by BIR Commissioner Kim Henares to do just that after the agency pushed for a “realistic assessment” of his tax liability.
Some of the commuters had earphones on and preferred to look out the window. But every now and then some passengers would sneak a glance at him and seemed to listen.


“The sooner he submits, the sooner this controversy will die down. We haven’t mentioned of any liability yet, that’s why we are investigating him,” Henares said Thursday.
Gazing at the bus preacher evoked contrasting mental images of another man – world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao – who now adeptly quotes from the Bible by chapter and verses every time the opportunity presents itself.


“We have to see the gravity of the violation. As of now, we are not even talking or thinking of tax evasion. We are only asking him to submit the documents,” she added.
Evangelization on wheels


Henares belied Pacquiao’s claims that he is being harassed by the BIR after its regional office in Sarangani claimed he rebuffed the agency’s summons in March to submit certain documents pertaining to his tax returns.
The preacher on the bus would later identify himself to GMA News Online as Jesse Gannabon. He said he is a pastor-in-training of the Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ Fourth Watch with office in Marikina.


The Sarangani lawmaker’s failure to obey summons from the BIR prompted Regional Director Rozil Lozares to file the case, citing Section 266 of the National Internal Revenue Code.
Jesse spoke clearly though he did not or could not make eye contact with the other passengers – most of whom tried to ignore him but the sense of hearing cannot be shut down. Some had earphones on and preferred to look out the window.
But every now and then some passengers would sneak a glance at him and seemed to listen.


Penalties for this offense could range from a fine of P5,000 to P10,000 and imprisonment of one year to two years.
Jessie’s preaching followed a three-part outline. First, he introduced why he was there. Then he cited a few Bible passages and endeavored to explain them. Lastly, he asked for donations.
After his preaching, Jessie consented to an interview. He said he has been a missionary for three years now of the Pentecostal Fourth Watch.
As the interview proceeded, the other passengers were now intently listening.
He also said he did the preaching on the bus everyday, whole day from about 8 a.m. to late afternoon around 4 p.m.
Jessie said he preached because it was a commandment of God.


Lozares said the tax bureau issued a subpoena duces tecum (or subpoena for production of evidence) in January directing Pacquiao to present income-related documents but the lawmaker supposedly failed to appear before them.
As the bus approached the intersection of EDSA and Ortigas Avenue, he collected the envelopes he handed out, thanked the passengers, and got off the bus.
A new calling
Like the bus preacher, Pacquiao quotes the Bible quite often now. But unlike Jesse, Pacquiao has a weekly television variety show and hordes of media people following him every day.
So confident and inspired Pacquiao is about his new calling that he recently led a Bible sharing session on the premises of the GMA Network Center.


Pacquiao said he should no longer be taxed for earnings from his fights abroad consistent to the Philippines-US tax treaty but Malacañang surmised that the investigation will have something to do with his local endorsements.
Months ago, whenever he got to speak during Mass at Quiapo Church in Manila, he would just give profuse thanks and say that for every big problem, he “has a bigger God.”
Now, the Pacman expertly throws not just punches, but also quick Bible quotes and some advice.
He credits Jeric Soriano, a recently ordained pastor of the Alabang New Life Christian Center, for his being a “changed man” and his newfound love for learning from the Bible.


In the BIR’s list of top 500 taxpayers, the eight-division world champion ranked first in 2008 for paying P125 million but he tumbled down to 113th place in 2010.
The Pacman was with Soriano on stage at the ordination last January.


“Why the sudden drop?” Henares asked.
Pacquiao had also revealed that his home has become a venue for Bible study sessions with friends and neighbors in Sarangani province and General Santos City.
 
Taking the cudgels for Pacquiao is Senator Ramon Revilla Jr., who criticized BIR for showing disrespect to “someone who we all consider as a contemporary hero.”
Auxiliary Bishop Pablo David of Pampanga has revealed that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has asked Pacquiao to be a Bible ambassador of the CBCP.
 
"If the BIR is certain that Manny committed an error, then just take the necessary actions and file the necessary charges. Why announced it on the papers?" Revilla said.
“Manny has always been very religious and we are happy that he is deepening his faith and his understanding of the Bible,” said David, who is chairman of the CBCP’s Commission on Biblical Apostolate.
 
The senator also advised Pacquiao to take the issue “with a grain of salt” and direct his attention to the upcoming fight against Timothy Bradley on June 9.
“That’s why I asked him if he could partner with us in promoting the reading of the Bible among Catholics,” Bishop David also said. — GMA News
 
But Henares said that Pacquiao should blame himself for the adverse publicity that this controversy brought him, including supposed loss of endorsement deals abroad, saying publicity was fueled by his own camp.
 
The BIR chief said the BIR in Koronadal City never made mention of him during press conference of its tax campaign.
 
But the local press got wind of Pacquiao’s failure to obey summons and inquired from the regional director, who was forced to confirm it.


==Photo Gallery of Sarangani, Philippines==
==Photo Gallery of Sarangani, Philippines==
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