Press Release
August 13, 2010

Pia lauds "Lucky Friday the 13th"; welcomes
TROs on VAT on toll fees and 250% SLEX toll hike

Senator Pia S. Cayetano today welcomed the Supreme Court's decision issuing separate temporary restraining orders (TROs) on the imposition of the 12 percent Value Added Tax (VAT) and the 250% toll fee increase at the Southern Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

The issuance of the TROs came on a Friday the 13th, which is traditionally believed to bring bad fortune.

"This must be the luckiest Friday the 13th for Filipinos yet," she exclaimed. "Today brought not only one, but two bits of good news with the High Court's timely intervention stopping VAT imposition on toll and the 250% increase in SLEX toll fees."

"The twin decisions bring much-needed reprieve to our people, including motorists, the transport sector and commuters alike, including my fellow residents in the South who, for weeks, had been wary of the possible repercussions had the impositions pushed through as planned on Monday," said Cayetano, whose family hails from Taguig City.

"We may not be as lucky next time and so I hope all concerned sectors will take advantage of this opportunity to thresh out these issues and for the Supreme Court to undertake an exhaustive study and make a wise ruling on the two pending cases involving public interest.

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