LOOK: Kris Aquino posts summary of tax payments on Instagram

MANILA, Philippines- Presidential sister Kris Aquino is once again embroiled in another controversy after posting a summary her tax payments on Instagram.

The controversial social media post drew negative reactions from netizens who earlier lambasted the TV-host actress for riding the presidential chopper on her way to a Liberal Party sortie in Cebu. Kris and her family were accused of using government resources in campaigning for administration bets former DILG Chief Mar Roxas and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo.

On Saturday, April 23, the 41-year-old celebrity shared data from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) which revealed the amount of her tax payments and her ranking as top taxpayer since 2008. Kris captioned the controversial post with the hashtags ‘truth’ and ‘honest taxpayer’.

In a separate post, the presidential sister shared a photo of her and sons Joshua and Bimby with brother President Benigno Aquino III with the caption “Because we are #FAMILY.”

The former Kapamilya actress’s post appears to have angered netizens who pointed out that Kris didn’t need to brag about the amount of money she pays for tax. According to them, Kris has a higher wage so it would only be logical that she pays higher tax.

“My tax is as important as yours. Your tax is important as hers. Tax is not a payment, it's a contribution. In essence, no tax is small or big,” netizen karlothegreat commented on her Instagram post.

Earlier, President Aquino defended his younger sister from critics and stressed that Kris is among the country’s top taxpayers.

“Whether it is an individual taxpayer or someone who is very close to me who shared all of the burdens, I think it is just proper to share the successes. Share kami sa hirap, share kami sa successes,” Aquino said in a statement.

While Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma earlier claimed that Kris has the privilege to ride official government vehicles with President Aquino, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced that it will investigate her use of government property in campaigning.

--Mini, The Summit Express

Did Mar Roxas receive leakage from ABS-CBN?

MANILA, Philippines - Liberal Party standard bearer Mar Roxas II has been accused of receiving questions from ABS-CBN prior to the third presidential debates held on Sunday, April 24.

 Netizens ask ABS-CBN on alleged cheating during the debate. Photo screengrab from Youtube.

According to netizens who alleged presidential debates host ABS-CBN of conspiring with Roxas, questions were apparently leaked as Roxas seemed more prepared compared to his opponents and was able to cite specific data and case studies. Moreover, netizens noted that Roxas received questions that built his character and reputation.

“While Miriam Santiago groped for answers, many debate observers noticed how Mar answered the questions so eloquently with all the facts and figures to support his arguments and fitting the time allotted to him,” according to an article of a blogsite.

Moreover, a certain Nylede Flores uploaded a video flashing the caption for Roxas’ statement which appeared just before he delivered it. The said video is no longer available as of this writing due to a copyright claim by ABS-CBN.

In the video, a few seconds before Roxas stated: “Sa karanasan, binabangga ko ang mga malalaking interes…,” the caption: “Roxas: Binangga ko ang mga malalaking interes.” was displayed on screen. Critics of Roxas insisted that this would only be possible if the chargen operator received a copy of Roxas’ answers to the debate questions in advance.

“So, what possibly happened was 1.) the Roxas camp was given a leak of the questions to be asked; 2) the Roxas camp prepared answers to the questions; 3) the prepared answers were given to the technical group handling the coverage thus allowing the chargen operator to type the blurbs and post these almost simultaneously with Roxas’ answers,” political writer and former North Cotabato governor Manny Piñol wrote on his Facebook page.


However, an article for Fight for Mar dispelled netizens’ allegations that Roxas cheated during the presidential debate.

“The video attached ONLY shows Mar saying it the second time as he concluded his statement. He started with the same phrase. It was only at the end when the text appeared,” the article said.

Moreover, the article pointed out that Mar confidently answered the debate questions since he had discussed the same issues such as internet access, institutionalized scholarships, clean energy, justice system, transportation and other issues in the past.

Do you think Mar Roxas was given questions prior to the debate? Watch the video replay (head over to 2:11:00 to 2:11:33).


--Mini, The Summit Express