Philippine celebrities are to be leaned on by inland revenue officials who said Tuesday they will begin targeting stars as part of a new crackdown on tax evasion.
Although the campaign will cover other high earners, there will be a special focus on celebrities to set an example to the showbiz-crazed Philippine public.
"For celebrities, it's easier (to check) if they are reporting (earnings) or not. You just watch the TV, look at billboards or the magazines," tax commissioner Kim Henares said in an interview with ABS-CBN television.
A staffer from Henares' office told AFP they would focus on "those in the media who are earning quite a big amount".
"They will be used as examples to highlight the activities the bureau of internal revenue is undertaking in this area," said the staffer who asked not to be identified.
The details of the campaign are still being thrashed out as part of a wider effort to cut down on rampant tax evasion, said aides of Henares.
President Benigno Aquino, who took office on June 30, has said the government will control its ballooning deficit with improved collections rather than resorting to new taxes.
Celebrities like movie and sports stars are held in high regard in the Philippines, with many being elected to high office.
Copyright 2010 AFP Global Edition
