False meme pits Alejano, Trillanes vs Pacquiao

Senate bet Gary Alejano and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV have not called for an investigation on Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s finances, contrary to a meme circulating online.

Posted Feb. 13 by the Facebook page Sara “Inday” Duterte-Carpio Supporters, the meme ran photos of Alejano and Trillanes with a larger one of Pacquiao, and added the false quote:

Paiimbestigahan namin Yong Bilyon Bilyong Pera ni MANNY PACQUIAO Nakakabahala kung saan Nanggaling ito (We shall have Manny Pacquiao’s billions investigated. Where this is coming from is worrisome).

The Bureau of Internal Revenue had accused the boxer of failing to declare his winnings from fights in 2008 to 2009 but the Court of Tax Appeals in 2018 ordered to tax bureau to “cease and desist” from collecting over P3 billion worth of supposed tax deficiencies, according to several news reports.

While Trillanes and Pacquiao have traded barbs before, the former and Alejano have made no public statement accusing Pacquiao of hiding billions in wealth, much less demanded an investigation, an online search showed.

VERA Files Fact Check earlier debunked a viral Facebook post claiming Trillanes wanted Pacquiao’s wealth investigated.

The Feb. 13 meme has been shared more than 3,792 times, many by pages and groups containing the words “Marcos” and “Duterte.” It has 866 comments and 12,776 interactions.

References

Buan, L. (2018, August 3). After 6 years, court lifts P3 billion tax sanction on Pacquiao. Rappler. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/nation/208785-court-tax-appeals-order-bir-manny-pacquiao-tax

Marcelo, E. (2018, August 3) . Stop collecting P3.3-B tax from Pacquiao, BIR told. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/08/03/1839262/stop-collecting-p33-b-tax-pacquiao-bir-told

Senate of the Philippines. (daily ed. 2017, March 8). 72 Senate Journal 1191-1192. Retrieved from http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/2558722061!.pdf

Torres-Tupas, T. (2018, August 3). Court stops BIR seizure of Pacquiao assets . Inquirer.net. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1016804/pacquiao-scores-another-victory-this-time-in-tax-court-vs-bir

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