Liberal Party senatorial aspirant Alexander “Pinoy” Lacson yesterday described as a “bad joke” the plan by the Bureau of Internal Revenue to impose a 30 percent tax on the $100,000 cash award, which Efren Peñaflorida would receive as CNN “Hero of the Year,” a press release from his office said.

Lacson, who authored the book “12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do to Help Our Country,” said he felt uncomfortable and sad upon learning from a BIR insider that the agency would require Peñaflorida to remit 30 percent of his award money as tax.

Peñaflorida has yet to receive his cash award.

“It’s tantamount to punishing Peñaflorida, who has brought prestige and honor to our country. This is something that makes every Filipino sad,” Lacson, who described himself as a “friend” and “fan” of Peñaflorida, said in the press release.

Lacson added that he would include, as part of his legislative agenda, the exemption from tax coverage of all cash awards, which Filipino nationals would receive from prestigious international organizations, including CNN.

He added that he would also include from the tax coverage exemption all cash awards that come from acts of heroism, the press release said.*

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