FACT CHECK: Ralph Recto quote on taxing Alex Eala’s prize money is fake
Claim: Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the prize money of Filipina tennis star Alex Eala should be subject to tax.
Rating: FALSE
Why we fact-checked this: The claim was posted by Facebook user Ado Paglinawan on August 8. As of writing, it has reached more than 2,400 reactions and 3,200 shares.
The quote card cites Recto as saying, “Prize money ni Alex Eala, dapat sumailalim sa tax.”
(Alex Eala’s prize money should be subject to tax.)
The quote card was reposted by various Facebook accounts and pages across different groups. Other graphics, bearing the same quote, also emerged online.
The facts: The quote circulating online is fake. This was confirmed by the Office of the Executive Secretary in an email to Rappler on August 11.
“This is the latest product of a well-financed fake news industry targeting the Executive Secretary. Obviously, no such statement was made. Kahit kailan, hindi niya sasabihin ‘yan (He will never say that),” Recto’s office stated.
Eala’s prize money: The Filipina tennis star has dominated news headlines after winning her first-ever Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour crown in the Washington Open.
On Monday, August 3 (Tuesday, August 4, Manila time), Eala defeated world No. 3 Jessica Pegula of the United States for the title.
Her victory raised her world ranking to No. 20 — eight spots higher than her previous ranking a week before, marking her biggest ranking jump since her breakthrough into the top 35 in February.
Eala’s title victory earned her prize money of $252,000 (around P15.4 million). This brings her earnings from competitions this year so far to $1.5 million, or more than P93.3 million.
However, Eala’s winnings are still subject to tax in the country where the tournament is held. For example, foreign players who win in the United States, which is the host country of the Mubadala DC Open, are generally subject to a withholding tax of 30%.
Alex Eala at the Canadian Open: Following her Washington title run, Eala sought to extend her hot streak at the Canadian Open in Toronto.
However, fatigue from consecutive matches and an ankle injury appear to have caught up with the young tennis star, as Eala’s stint ended after falling to world No. 14 Belinda Bencic of Switzerland in the round of 16 of the tourney. – Lourence Angelo Marcellana/Rappler.com
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