By Michele Emrick
It has been quite a week for boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao. Saturday night he dominated Brandon Rios so clearly that many are calling for him once again to be a future opponent for Floyd Mayweather. He followed that with a hero’s welcome home when he arrived back in the Philippines on Monday. However, it wasn’t just fans who were there to greet him. He also learned upon arrival that his bank accounts havd been frozen by the Philiippines Bureau of Internal Revenue.
At a press briefing that was held, Pacquiao said “I’ve always wanted to help the victims of the typhoon and earthquake but I was slammed by the BIR with a P2.2 billion tax case which has no basis. I can’t withdraw a single cent from my own money. I can’t use it to help. BIR has garnished my money. This money did not come from PDAF or DAP, it came from every punch, sweat, and blood that I’ve earned from boxing. The BIR claims I earned more than what I actually did, without any evidence to back it up. They ignored information given by Top Rank and HBO and insisted I have earned more. My lawyers have given them all the info that they want and they still refuse to believe. I really don’t know why I am being singled out.”
It has been reported that Manny Pacquiao received $18 million for the fight with Brandon Rios, and he suggests that the situation is politically motivated, having no basis in fact.
