Duterte willing to settle

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has indicated that he is willing to settle a tax-evasion court case against cigarette manufacturer Mighty Corp. so that he could use the money to upgrade public hospitals in Mindanao and Metro Manila, reports Manilla Bulletin.

The country’s Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) recently filed a PHP9.56 billion ($190.5 million) case against Mighty Corp.

“If you choose to fight it in court, and it is a very slow process, I would rather that a compromise,” Duterte was quoted as saying.

The president has yet to convince Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and BIR Chief Caesar Dulay to allow settlements of big tax-evasion cases.