The “Most” (LOL) Reverend Oscar V. Cruz, D.D. seems to be getting his beloved Catholic church in a fix. In his blog, he contends that PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) should be paying E-VAT (extended value added tax) to the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) which, he says they don’t.

I agree. They should, really. That’s a lot of money for the government. I also like his arguments to this point. Arguments which, ironically, point right back to him and his beloved Catholic church. Denying them at this point, is tantamount to hypocrisy.

First, PAGCOR expressly professes and repeatedly advertises that its many and different gambling activities are in support of social projects basically intended for the common welfare of the citizens, the poor and less fortunate in particular. If that is the case, why will it refuse to pay E-VAT which is adamantly and repeatedly said as primarily intended to help the indigent and miserable in the country?

Translated:

First, The Catholic church expressly professes and repeatedly advertises that its many and different activities are in support of social projects basically intended for the common welfare of the citizens, the poor and less fortunate in particular. If that is the case, why will it refuse to pay E-VAT which is adamantly and repeatedly said as primarily intended to help the indigent and miserable in the country?

Second, no less than Malacañang itself officially and profusely claims the E-VAT is meant to help the poor, to subsidize the cost of their basic needs, to lighten their economic woes. This is precisely why it is unyielding in demanding E-VAT and unbending in its posture of maintaining E-VAT despite appeals from many citizens and different organizations alike.

Fair enough.

Third, Tomas, Pedro and Maria, Bugoy, Penpen and Nene, the young, the old and the elderly, the poor, the sick and the beggars – all some 88 million Filipinos are obliged to pay E-VAT to the government through the BIR. And PAGCOR exempts itself from paying the universal, insistent and continuous tax paid by the citizens of the Philippines from birth to death? Where is sanity and reason here? Where is truth and fair – play?

Translated:

Third, Tomas, Pedro and Maria, Bugoy, Penpen and Nene, the young, the old and the elderly, the poor, the sick and the beggars – all some 88 million Filipinos are obliged to pay E-VAT to the government through the BIR. And the Catholic Church exempts itself from paying the universal, insistent and continuous tax paid by the citizens of the Philippines from birth to death? Where is sanity and reason here? Where is truth and fair – play?

The Catholic Church should lead by example. Their insistence on the separation of Church and State while interfering with the government is sickening.

Practice as you preach oh “most” reverend one!

Source: Philippine Amusing Gambling Corporation: untouchable and non-taxable

This entry was posted on Monday, August 18th, 2008 at 10:21 am and is filed under Catholics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.