Duterte tells senators to imprison, kill Pharmally execs for not paying taxes

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 10) — President Rodrigo Duterte told senators on Tuesday they can imprison – or even kill – executives of the Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. for not paying taxes last year.

"'Yung mga Pharmally d’yan na hindi nagbayad (ng tax), dapat talaga pagbayarin ‘yan…. 'Yung sabi nilang hindi bumabayad, ikulong ninyo ‘yan, gusto n’yo patayin pa ninyo,” Duterte said in his taped address on Tuesday.

[Translation: Those in Pharmally not paying taxes, they should be made to pay... Those they said who did not pay, put them in prison, if you want kill them.]

He added that those not paying taxes are considered criminals.

The President reiterated that the controversial medical supplier is not his concern, but his Cabinet members attending hearings amid the ongoing probe of senators regarding deals the company made with the government.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Oct. 28 presented a summary of tax records from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, which showed Pharmally claimed a tax credit worth over ₱96 million last year but did not pay any tax.

Meanwhile, income tax return of Pharmally president Twinkle Dargani and corporate secretary Mohit Dargani were considered very low considering their purchase of luxury cars, the senator added.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque later told a briefing that the government will pursue the company if the non-payment of taxes is proven.