Presidential candidate Isko Moreno said Friday it was "legal" for him to keep P50 million in excess campaign funds, as long as he paid taxes for it.
The Manila mayor said he consulted the Bureau of Internal Revenue on the move, after which he declared the surplus kitty as income and paid taxes. Moreno said it was "unique" for a politician to reveal what happens to excess election funds.
Moreno first revealed the surplus in an interview with GMA News' Jessica Soho and was asked about it again Friday during a forum hosted by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas.
Paying taxes on the money is "the most important thing", Moreno said.
"Kaya importante sa isang kandidato o sinumang tao na tapat sa kanyang bayan, may nakatingin o wala," he said.
"Ginawa ko yun bilang isang masunuring mamamayan ayon sa alituntunin ng batas at in fact nagtanong pa nga ako noon sa BIR," he said.
Asked if the money was better spent elsewhere than kept as income, Moreno said: "Tama naman. In the future, dapat magtatag tayo ng mga alituntunin na magiging gabay ng lahat ng magiging kandidato. At the time, ang naisip ko ay gampanan ko ang tungkulin ko bilang mamamayan na nagbabayad ng buwis."
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