MANILA, Philippines - At least eleven showbiz personalities led by "Queen of All Media" Kris Aquino were identified to be among the country's 500 biggest taxpayers in 2011, pointing to their sizeable earnings.
The latest list, released by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), is populated by the country's highest earners from entertainment, business, politics and even the sporting world.
Besides Aquino who is the top taxpaying Filipino, model and actress Solenn Heusaff and actor and sports personality Derek Ramsay paid over P7 million worth of taxes that year.
Heusaff, however, faces a P3.6 million tax evasion charge for allegedly declaring a smaller income in the same year. (Read related story: Heussaff faces P3.6M tax evasion raps)
Actors Piolo Pascual and Kim Chui with multiple television, movie and endorsement projects also surrendered over P6 million worth of taxes, while boxing icon Manny Pacquiao was taxed P6.10 million from his income.
Television hosts Willy Revillame, Ogie Alcasid, Sharon Cuneta and Ryan Agoncillo also earned enough to be taxes over P5 million each, with actor John Lloyd also surrendering P5.4 million to the government.
- Kris Aquino (Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino) - P49.8 million
- Solenn Heussaff (Cynthia Marie Adea Heussaff) - P7.79 million
- Derek Ramsay (Derek Arthur Paggao Ramsay) - P7.07 million
- Piolo Pascual (Piolo Jose Nonato Pascual) - P6.98 million
- Kim Chiu (Kimberley Sue Yap Chiu) - P6.71 million
- Manny Pacquiao (Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao) - P6.10 million
- Willy Revillame (Wilfredo Revillame) - P5.85 million
- Ogie Alcasid (Herminio Lualhati Alcasid, Jr.) - P5.8 million
- Sharon Cuneta (Sharon Cuneta Pangilinan) - P5.7 million
- Ryan Agoncillo (Kristoffer Lou Ryan Agoncillo) - P5.59 million
- John Lloyd Cruz - P5.4 million
BIR said in a statement that the agency has closely watched the entertainment industry where there are several high earning individuals. - Camille Diola