Lawmaker praises BIR shame campaign

MANILA - Another lawmaker has come to the defense of the Bureau of Internal Revenue over its "shame campaign" against tax cheats. Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento said that instead of criticizing BIR Commissioner Kim Henares, the public should praise the official for her extraordinary efforts to collect the right taxes. The BIR has come under fire for publishing a print ad that allegedly mocks doctors and other medical professionals who do not pay the correct taxes. The print ad showed a female doctor riding piggyback on a female teacher. Captions showed that the lower-salaried teacher is paying more taxes than the doctor. The blurb read: "When you don’t pay your taxes, you're a burden to those who do. Do your share. knowyourtaxes.ph." The Philippine Medical Association labeled the ad "unfair", saying that it portrays doctors as tax cheats. Henares, however, defended the ad, saying it is not meant to single out all doctors but only those who do not pay taxes. Sarmiento said the "shame campaign" ads should be seen as symbolic of the heavy toll brought on by people who do not pay the right taxes. Instead of taking it personally, he said doctors should look at the message of the ads. RADIO DZMM, March 10, 2014