Press Release
April 10, 2016

CHIZ: I WILL NOT SUPPORT ANY MEASURE RAISING TAXES

Independent vice-presidential candidate Sen. Francis Escudero said he will not support any measure that would raise taxes in the Philippines, whether as lawmaker or vice-president, if he wins in the May 9 elections.

Asked why he did not vote for the passage of the Sin Tax Law, Escudero said this position was simply consistent with his advocacy for reforms that will lower taxes, not add or increase existing ones.

"Sa labing-walong taon ko po sa Kongreso, bilang miyembro ng Kamara at ng Senado, ni minsan wala akong binotohang pabor sa pagtataas ng buwis sa ating bansa. Pilipinas na po ang isa sa may pinakamataas na buwis sa rehiyon na 'to at marahil sa buong mundo. Hindi po ako boboto pabor sa anumang pagtataas ng buwis," Escudero said in response to a question on his stance on the Sin Tax Law.

The seasoned lawmaker said the Sin Tax Law affects the lifestyle of the poor, who are primary consumers of the products whose manufacturers pay the sin tax. Manufacturers are known to pass on the burden of taxes to its consumers.

'Yung mahirap po ang kadalasang binubuwisan ng Sin Tax ninyo dahil sila, madalas sa bukid ang mga gumagamit ng produkto na nais niyong buwisan," Escudero said.

"Imbes na 'yan, sana binuwisan niyo na lang yung mga may mayamang may kotse, yung mga eroplano ng mga mayayaman, sana yung mga barko at yate ng mga mayayaman. Kung 'yan ang panukala niyo, boboto marahil ako kung mayaman ang bubuwisan ninyo," he said.

Escudero is the sponsor of a bill that later became Republic Act No. 9504. It exempts minimum wage earners in the private and public sectors from paying income tax. The law covers the basic pay, holiday pay, overtime pay, night shift differential and hazard pay received by minimum wage earners.

Escudero is also among the main proponents of tax reforms in the 16th Congress, noting that since 1997, when the Tax Reform Act was passed, tax brackets in the Philippines have not changed.

The 32-percent tax rate in the Philippines for personal income over P500,000 is among the highest tax rates in Asia. The 30-percent corporate tax rate in the country is also among the highest in the region.

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