MANILA, Philippines -- Actress-host Kris Aquino, who was the top individual taxpayer in 2011, encouraged all Filipinos to be honest in paying their taxes.
According to data from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Aquino, the youngest sister of President Benigno Aquino, paid nearly P50 million in income taxes in 2011 -- more than the country's so-called billionaire-tycoons.
"Iniisip ko para di ka na lang ma-feel bad na ang laki ng kaltas sa iyo, eh at least napunta sa mga maraming nagbibigay serbisyo sa ating Filipino. 'Yun na lang ang isipin niyo -- kapag nandadaya kayo sa tax ay kapwa Filipino natin ang dinadaya natin," Aquino said in her morning show "KrisTV" on Tuesday.
Aquino said she knows that a lot of Filipinos have mixed feelings about paying their taxes.
"Ito po 'yung pananaw ko ha. Kasi ang daming tao na parang ang feeling nila 'bakit ba tayo magbabayad ng buwis eh hindi naman nakikita ang serbisyo?' Eh ako siyempre nararamdaman ko naman yon. Ni-research ko din, nagtanong din ako, 'saan ba napunta ang pera ko?'" she said.
According to Aquino, based on her research, the P49.8 million she paid in 2011 for her taxes can pay for the monthly salary of 3,125 government teachers and nurses, 2,500 police officers or 3,846 barangay captains.
Aquino said she is just paying back for the support she has been getting from her fans and viewers.
"Hindi ko naman kikitain 'yon kung hindi dahil sa kanila. Kasi everyday niyo akong pinapanood, (binabalik ko lang)," she said, adding that she wasn't expecting to be the top individual taxpayer.
"I didn't expect to be No. 1. I knew na malaki ang binayad ko, pero hindi ko in-expect na ako ang magta-top," she added.
Aquino, one of the highest paid stars in show business, admitted that 70% of her earnings come from her endorsement deals.
"Para lang klaro baka kasi akala niyo super laki ay nanggaling sa (ABS-CBN) pero 70% ng sweldo ko ay nanggagaling sa endorsements. So thank you very much sa inyo kasi ang tax na 'yan, nanggaling naman talaga 'yung pambayad niyan dahil malaki ang kinita ko dahil sa tiwala at sa suportang ibinibigay niyo sa akin through the years . Kaya happy ako na sa Pinoy din bumalik ang pera na yon," Aquino said.
