DEFENDING MANNY
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 30 Mar 2012
Malicious, untimely.
This was how Manny Pacquiao?s allies in Congress and in the boxing community described the tax charges the Bureau of Internal Revenue hurled against the reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight champion.
?Malicious and untimely because it came at a time when Pacquiao is about to prepare to defend his title three months from now,? Rep. JV Ejercito of San Juan City decried Friday during the SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura.
?Instead of giving Manny, who by the way we consider a National Treasure, a National Hero, etc., what we are giving him is reason to be distracted,? the son of former President Joseph ?Erap? Estada said during the forum, sponsored by Powerade, AKTV and FILA.
?This is crab mentality in the highest degree,? he assailed.
?What is sad and ironic is that it is the government which is doing the damage on, not only Manny, but the country and the Filipino race as well,? Ejercito lamented. ?We have been saying that Manny is, not only a National Treasure, a Hero, but also the face of the nation. But look what we are doing, tayo mismo ang dumudungis sa ating mukha.?
Sectoral representative Mark Sambar of the Puwersa ng Bayaning Pilipino, international promoters Sammy Gello-ani and Dennis Canete agreed, echoing the belief that what the BIR did has destroyed both the reputation of the world?s pound-for-pound king and the country. ?Good reputation is hard-earned that we can get it after a long while, even during a lifetime,? Sambar said.? But it only took several seconds to tarnish it as what happened to Manny.?
?Manny has succeeded in gaining respect for himself and for the country in nearly two decades of practicing his boxing profession. He actually is the saving grace for the bad image we are getting in the international community,? Sambar said.
?But because of the ill-advised move of the BIR, that of airing Manny?s case to the media instead of solving the problem internally, the respect he had gained had been tarnished,? Sambar deplored. ?Nakakaduda nga ang timing. First it was done a few months before Manny?s next fight. Second it was done while Congress is at recess. Lahat ng kongresista nasa kani-kanila nang distrito at wala nang magtatanggol kay Manny,? he remarked.
Ejercito, Sambar, Gello-ani and Canete expressed amazement as to the reason of the government in going against Pacquiao.
?Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ang rason, especially because only a few years ago, Manny was even made the poster boy of the BIR in its campaign to raise collection,? Ejercito said. ?Whatever the reasons are, I am of the belief that the BIR and Commissioner Ynares are very insensitive and cruel to a Filipino who has done the country proud.? Besides being malicious and untimely, Gello-ani, who is also the manager of another Filipino world champion John Riel Casimero, branded the charges filed by BIR against Pacquiao as unfair to a man of his stature.
?Manny has contributed a lot to the country?s economy because every time he fights the country?s economy turns very busy to the benefit of the government. There?s no reason really to suspect that Manny is cheating on his tax payment,? Gello-ani noted.
?Besides paying high taxes, Manny also helps his countrymen, especially the poor who cannot afford sending members of their families to school and hospital. He has also been very active in rescue operations to victims of calamities. So, wala talaga sa lugar to charge him with tax evasion,? Gello-ani reasoned out.
?My voice might not be that of the entire boxing community, but I?m sure all members of the local boxing world will agree with me in standing behind Pacquiao in this fight against shenanigans in the BIR,? Gello-ani said.
Canete, vice president of ALA Boxing promotions said something fishy might be behind the BIR?s singling out Pacquiao.
?If the reason behind this BIR move is to destroy the good name of Pacquiao and the Philippines, then the government is succeeding. Just look at the bad publicity coming out in foreign media outfit, including the international websites. Kabaligtaran na ang lumalabas,? Canete bewailed.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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