Manny Pacquiao says he doesn't have the money to make good on his promise to help typhoon victims in his native Philippine because local revenue authorities have frozen his bank accounts.
According to ESPN, The Bureau of Internal Revenue insists Pacquiao hasn't proved he paid taxes in 2008-2009 and it has been assessed he owes 2.2 billion pesos in back taxes, the equivalent of $50 million in U.S. currency.
Pacquiao told ESPN he borrowed over 1 million pesos ($22,700) to purchase relief supplies before his fight Sunday with Rios in Macau and will borrow more to keep his word to typhoon victims. In all, Pacquiao said he plans to provide aid to more than 10,000 families.
Pacquiao maintains he paid taxes in the U.S. following victories over Ricky Hatton and Oscar de la Hoya during the year in question and that a treaty prevents double taxation. A criminal case was dropped by prosecutors for alleged unpaid taxes in 2010, but the revenue authorities' tax claims for the 2008-2009 are still pending.
"I appeal to them to remove the garnishment so that I can move and pay for my staff's salaries," Pacquiao told reporters in his southern hometown of General Santos city. "I am not a criminal or a thief."
He said his wife's accounts have also been frozen.
"The money that was garnished by the Bureau of Internal Revenue is not stolen," he told ESPN. "This came from all of the punches, beatings, blood and sweat that I endured in the ring."
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