- BIR Commissioner Kim Henares says politicians threaten her to please potential campaign donors
- Henares describes many of the big businessmen who are campaign donors as “allergic” to her
- She adds that candidates simply tell donors “what they want to hear”
Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim Henares hit back at her critics, including politicians promising to kick her out of office after the 2016 elections; saying that such statements were made in order to please potential campaign donors.
Henares told an audience gathered during a forum organized by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) that many of the moneyed individuals which politicians approach to fund their campaigns are often “allergic” to her strong stance in going after big businesses and high profile tax evaders.
“Alam ninyo, ‘yung kausap [nila], allergic sa akin. Hihingi ka ng donation, e ‘di siyempre sasabihin mo sa hihingan mo ng donation yung [gustong] marinig ng hihingan ng donation. Eh kung sasabihin mo sa hihingan mo ng donation ‘yung bagay na ayaw niyang marinig, paano ka makakakuha ng donation? [You know, those they talk to are allergic to me. When you ask for a donation, of course, you would tell the potential donor what he wants to hear. Of course, if you tell the potential donor something he doesn’t want to hear, how can you receive a donation?],” Henares said, as quoted by GMA News.
The BIR Commissioner also explained that one of the requisites for an individual to be considered a proper campaign donor is the right payment of taxes; adding that election contributors must have “enough revenue” to enable them to make their donation in the first place.
“When you donate and you allow your name to be used as a donor, you should make sure that you have enough revenue that you’ve reported and paid taxes. How can you donate if you never paid taxes?” she said.
Despite the criticisms and the threat of being forced out of her job, Henares remains unfazed; adding that she enjoys working in the government despite the hardships.
“Alam mo, mahirap magtrabaho sa gobyerno kaya ako natutuwa. Para sa akin, [You know, working in government is difficult, which is why I enjoy it. For me,] you’re going to government because you wanted to provide public service. You go into government because you believe you can do something to strengthen your country and you don’t want that deep in your conscience, you did not try,” she said.
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