Tuesday, Feb 16, 2010
Gulf News
Manila Leading presidential candidate Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino opposed his rivals in the May elections, saying that if elected, he would not push Congress to pass bills that would call for more taxes on Filipinos.
"It is not right to raise new taxes at this point in time when you are not collecting taxes properly," said Aquino, the presidential candidate of the Liberal Party, during a meeting with members of the Foreign Correspondents of the Philippines.
What should be done is better tax collection, said Aquino. He did not give details about his plan to collect taxes from the underground economy of poor people who live in the slum areas.
Less popular presidential bets, such as evangelist Eddie Villanueva, Senator Jamby Madrigal and councillor from central Philippines JC de los Reyes, said they are not for more taxes, adding that taxes will be an additional burden on poor people.
They did not say if they are for higher taxes for the rich and big business interests.
Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the ruling Lakas, former Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, said he is for more taxes on sin products such as tobacco.
There should be a levy on text messages from telecommunication companies, said Teodoro.
He did not explain if this would affect consumers who would take the burden of the taxes from the telecommunications company.
"They harm health and the environment. The use of sin products must not be encouraged," said Teodoro.
By Barbara Mae Dacanay
Gulf News 2010. All rights reserved.
