After word war, Noy meets Pacman

MANILA, Philippines - After a heated word war, President Aquino and Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao met at the Palace yesterday afternoon, but it was kept private.

The President told reporters in an ambush interview that he was ready to listen to what Pacquiao would say to him during the boxing icon’s courtesy call.

The Sarangani representative is currently facing tax woes both here and the United States.

Aquino said it took a while for him and Pacquiao to meet because they have been busy helping the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

“I suppose he is busy and I suppose I am busier... There is no other point than scheduling conflict,” Aquino said.

Pacquiao defeated Brandon Rios in Macau on Nov. 24 after losing to Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez.

Days after winning the boxing match, the Bureau of Internal Revenue slapped Pacquiao with a huge tax assessment.

The BIR is trying to collect P2.2 billion from Pacquiao in unpaid income and value-added taxes for 2008 and 2009.

The Sarangani congressman’s camp claims that if he has unpaid taxes, they would not amount to P2.2 billion.

Pacquiao is also reportedly facing an $18-million tax problem in the US.