WBC sets stage for Pacquiao-Mayweather dream fight as Pinoy champion battles BIR, US green card issue

By JO ERLINDA G. NEBRES

QUEZON CITY (PhilAmPress) – Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao showed up for the first time on Tuesday in the session hall of the House of Representatives amid his P2.2 billion tax battle with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
This developed as World Boxing Council, in a surprise move, put Pacquiao number 1 in the welterweight division which analysts said was a strong indication that WBC title holder Floyd Mayweather Jr. maybe directed later to defend his title against the Filipino champion.

If the Mayweather-Pacquiao dream fight happens, it is projected to be the richest fight in boxing history with both fighters earlier being assured of $50 million prize money each.
 Pacquiao, who is set to fight again at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on April 12, 2014, moved ahead of No. 2 Luis Abregu of Argentina in the 147-lbs class and his former sparring mate Amir Khan of England. Abregu , who was the top-rated contender in the November, 2013 list, slid to No. 2 as  Khan was down to No. 3 after being rated No. 2 previously. 
The world boxing icon has not warmed up his seat in Congress and another question surfaced, this time allegations that he is a green card holder in the United States where he had won many fights and made big money in the process.
The only eight-division title holder who just made a successful comeback in the boxing ring with a convincing win over American Mexican Brandon Rios in Macau readily denied the allegation, pointing out that he holds f a P1 US visa which is the visa for athletes and entertainers which allow them to work and generate income in the US.
The question on Pacquiao’s green card was first raised by controversial blogger Raissa Robles who noted in a lengthy post on the matter, citing the website of Wilner & O’Reilley, a California law firm that specializes in immigration. She asserted that a March 2005 post showed that Pacquiao – then just beginning to take his first steps towards boxing superstardom – had hired the firm as his “immigration counsel.”
Another post on the website, dated 2009, called Pacquiao a “successful immigrant.”
A U.S. immigrant – or a holder of a green card – is not an American citizen, Robles noted. However, green card holders are banned from running for office in the Philippines.
Robles said if Pacquiao acquired a green card in 2009, that should have disqualified him from running for office in the 2010 elections, and for re-election earlier last May, “unless he had first waived his permanent residency or immigrant status to the U.S.”
Whether or not he has a green card will also have bearing on Pacquiao’s on-going tax case.
Pacquiao’s long-time friends, Manila Congressman Amado Bagatsing and Buhay party-list Rep. Jose “Lito” Atienza Jr. laughed off Robles’ allegations even as Pacquiao himself denied he was a green card holder.
Bagatsing branded the reports as “chismis,” jokingly saying that Pacquiao cannot become a senator if he has a green card.
Rep. Toby Tiangco of Navotas City, who is also the secretary general of UNA, said he spoke to Pacquiao’s business manager Michael Koncz, who told him that Pacquiao is a holder of a P1 visa in the US.
Lawyer Tranquil Salvador, reacting to reports Pacquiao may be hesitant to show his US tax records because he is a green card holder, said: “No. he is not a green card holder. He cannot hold public office, specifically a congressional seat, if he is a greencard holder.”
Other colleagues led by Rep. Magtanggol Guinigundo also have come to the rescue of Pacquiao as they filed a bill  seeking to grant a lifetime income tax exemption to him for the unprecedented honor he has brought to the country.
Malacanang and BIR Commissioner Kim Jacinto Henares, however, quickly shot down the measure which they described as unjustified even as Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. was cool to the proposal.
Presidential Communications Operations Office head Herminio Coloma Jr. said it is the basic obligation of every Filipino to pay taxes properly.
“Tungkulin ng bawa’t mamamayan magbayad ng tamang buwis. Paying taxes is one of the basic obligations of Filipinos,” Coloma said, adding that Filipinos are assessed taxes according to their capacity to pay.
“Mahalagang tungkulin ng mamamayan suportahan ang pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng pagbayad ng tamang buwis sa tamang oras (It is important that citizens support the government by paying the right taxes at the right time),” Coloma added.
Coloma said exemptions from payment will also depend on several factors, based on the citizen’s capacity to pay taxes.
But he stressed that citizens should support the government by paying the proper taxes at the proper time.