There are those who asked where lawyer Harry Roque, Jr., who submitted an amicus brief with the U.S. court hearing the case of former Agriculture Undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-joc” Bolante, is getting the funds in going to the U.S. in connection with Bolante’s case.
Harry’s answer:
I have been practicing law for the past 15 years even before my appointment in UP as law professor. Considering my education has been subsidized by taxpayers money since high school (I went to UP for High school, part of college and law School), the money which I have now been spending for what I believe is for the public good is nothing compared to the subsidy I have received from Juan de la cruz. Besides, I am the only one in my family who is still in the Philippines. I welcome of course every opportunity to go to the US to see my family, specially my mother who has not been well recently.
No one has been funding me. I’m beginning to feel though that perhaps, I should soon ask help from civil society.
Harry is a living hero.
E-mail from Carlos Cortes, Jr:
I was one of the filipinos who was eager to watch the hearing in chicago but was not able because they made it a closed hearing.
I was the one who was interviewed by Jing reyes of abs cbn after the hearing. I said on that interview that Bolante should be given asylum PROVIDED he spill the beans.
Others/protesters say no assylum for him.
The GO for asylum was a consensus among us including Anong Santos,a Fil-Am newsman here in chicago. Well i think his lawyer/relatives in Chicago ay nakikiramdam what is good for him.
Keep it up.
I saw you on TV, Carlos.
Please keep us abreast of Bolante’s case. Thanks.
How sad then that some people have spread malicious stories about Atty. Roque. I, then, was a victim of such, being “whispered” to that he was being funded by a certain Mr. Guanzon. It is a terrible feeling to realize that it was smut! I must remind myself to be focused so as not to be derailed by Gloria and her Legions! I thought it best to float the story I got to find out the truth (how else?). It is good that Atty. Roque made a statement before things get muddled. Thank you, Atty. Roque, and I apologize.
Should the time come, Atty. Roque, that you need funding, I will find a way to give the little I can to your cause. Nothing can cost more than the truth you seek.
ROPE is our Hope.
Ellen:
Once again many thanks for the update. If I may suggest, of course with your help, why not establish ROPE foundation with ONLY SOLE purpose strictly limited to help those with mission the like of Atty Hary Roque. I know we are putting too much on you Ellen, but you are certainly the person can be trusted on handling funds designated for good causes. Atty. deserve any monetary support he can get and he’s also fighting for our cause as well. Goodluck!
I think that IS a GREAT idea, Toney Cuevas!
I don’t want to handle funds.
As my son would put it: HARRY ROQUE RULEZ!!!
Ellen,
Having mentioned taxpayer’s money, I realized that Atty. Roque is perhaps in the best position to take up an issue of patent injustice and massive discrimination against, well, taxpayers like you (I suppose) and me. Of course, after he is done with Bolante.
Filipinos here have to pay taxes (actually, it is deducted from my salary – I do not even get the chance to commit tax evasion) while those who go to work abroad are actually exempted from paying taxes. Is that not unfair, if not unjust?
I have nothing against overseas workers. I can even tolerate the idea that the government will spend millions to defend Filipino murderers and drug dealers abroad.
I can even withstand the pain of watching our lawmakers give 500 million pesos to bring home those wanted to leave the country in the first place, including those married and residing in Lebanon with their children (their Lebanese spouses should pay for their fare). Their excuse is that there are no jobs here. (Well, they can go to Malacanang and ask for their share of the one million, or is it two million, jobs GMA promised.)
I wish to be clear that I have nothing against Filipinos working overseas. I just want fair treatment. If they do not have to pay income tax, why should any of us here at home pay income tax? Why not just go ahead and abolish income taxes?
Alam ko mga “bagong bayani” silang mga OFW. Hindi ko hinihiling iyong bansag na iyon dahil buhay pa ako. Ang hiling ko lang ay huwag naman bawasan yung konting pera na natitira sa sahod ko. Sila, tayo, lahat naman pare-parehong nagpapakahirap at naghahanap-buhay.
Salamat at mabuhay kayong lahat.
If Ellen refused to handle funds, then how can we make contribution to the good cause? In a way, I don’t blame Ms Ellen. I can think of numerous reasons, but what come to mind first is the paranoia of Pilipinos when it comes to handling money. We are not doing a good job being trustworthy, no intended offense. No matter how good the intention, always someone out there with malicious thoughts in their mind, I suppose.
I think it is enough to say, “Thank you, Atty. Roque” for all the efforts that he has done to prove that Filipinos can solve their problems without anybody’s help than what is right and proper.
What is being done in this case is what is permitted under the law, and just as I have perceived has nothing at all to do with some crazy claim by the same people who have insinuated that Atty. Roque is being funded by some people for doing what he believes to be his duty and responsibility as a citizen of the Philippines to try to restore the law of law in that country. Hopefully, he will be able to defend himself should the time comes that the crooks in the Supreme Court are told to disbar him, which is possible with the case of Alan Paguia as a precedent.
More than money, Atty Roque will most probably need more our moral support.
As a fellow UPian, I salute him. I feel happy that he is living up to the ideals and principles that we have been trained to uphold before the attempts to corrupt even the educational system there, and reduce the UP to nothing but a mediocre institution of learning instead of what it has been founded on and for as a state university being a citadel of truth.
Mabuhay ka, Atty. Roque! I know a lot many of us from UP are doing our best to restore sanity in that land of our birth! You bet, you and a lot of us know what sacrifice is all about. You have just shown us how!
Toney,
ROPE FOUNDATION to help Atty Roque is an excellent idea!
Bravo!
Ellen:
I can believe Roque when he says that he is not getting a single centavo for making this sacrifice. A lot many of us have been doing just that. You as an example.
It gives me hope in fact that there are still a lot many Filipinos of the caliber of Bonifacio, Luna and Rizal, et al who were willing to go hungry for their ideals and principles without going out there with their hands raised and the palms up!
The word in fact is sacrifice, which does not translate into the sound of silver. Mahirap na baka mahudas pa!
Alleluia!
Praise and Glory be to God for there are still people like Atty. Harry Roques in this world!
May HR be given more because he doesn’ mind giving part of his own!
like THE Atty. Harry Roques of this world!
Oops, Cory by the Sea, got too tied up with my translations these past few days, I forgot about the iron on. Gotta go to PC depot and buy the papers there. Will try to send them tomorrow. I cannot do that today because I am going out from how to do some important translation job.
This should read: I cannot do that today because I am going out from NOW to do some important translation job.
ystakei-san,
Anything si OK with me….Just keep cool, OK?
Re: HR
YOU, Sir, makes me proud to be Pinoy, with your unselfish actions for and in behalf of the Filipino people.
Muchas Gracias and More Power to you and yours.
I’m sorry but please pardon my “cluelessness”, what is this ROPE thing? Maybe I was gone that long…hehehe, I’m now at a lost of I think “something important and good” for great cause. Hope anyone could enlighten me…thanks 🙂
Now, regarding Atty. Harry Roque…as of this moment all of us who are looking and praying for people like him that could “do the walk aside from doing the talk”, can consider him “a knight in shining armor”…MABUHAY ka Atty. Roque!!!!
As for Xenon’s question regarding taxes for OFWs:
1. We used to pay 2% of our gross income. We’re thankful to Joseph Estrada for signing into law the exemption of OFWs in paying taxes (1998).
2. We are already paying taxes in our adopted country of work.
3. We are helping the Philippines with our remittances. It is a given though that the government has nothing to do with that. We support our families because that’s what we want to do.
4. I think it is fair for us not pay taxes back home.
Hahahahaha! So, the Bansot is eyeing the taxes to be collected from the OFW and double tax them as a matter of fact. Thus, the insult hurled by some Internet Brigader about these taxes.
You bet, Jon, why should you pay taxes that you know will not benefit anyone in the country except the crooks who think it is their right and privilege to squander them and use for their gallivanting spree around the world? Bayad ng tax wala namang pakinabang!
Oh yes, That’s tantamount to double taxation, but if you are still a Filipino citizen, you can still file your income tax return as a non-resident in the Philippines (for records purposes)and claim the taxes paid in your adopted country of work as a tax credit, and you may end up not paying any tax. I am really not sure how the Philippine income taxes work now, but, this thing about tax credit is internationally recognized and used.
Tayong mga Pilipino, minsan napakahilig sa intriga. Pati ba naman yong mga gastos ni Atty Roque sa kaniyang ginagawa gusto pa nating bulatlatin? Dapat nga magpasalamat pa tayo dahil may ginagawa siyang nakikita natin na hindi puro daldal lang, and I do really believe him when he said that he is shouldering his own expenses, with no reservations whatsoever and with a prayer for his success.
If Ellen doesn’t want to handle funds, I suggest, we hire Jose “Mike, the fatso” Arrovo-Pidal.
Spartan, ROPE started with this comment from Anna:
anna de brux Says:
Check out comments under “34 years since martial law, despotism still reigns”. That’s where it all started. It’s really all for fun. Therapy in these stressful times.
Handling funds is always a pain (and a source of corruption as it’s too difficult sometimes to resist).
Maybe an existing nonprofit org can handle such kind of fund to help defray Atty Roque’s expenses.
Florry, bright idea. If not Fatso, maybe Mikey or Iggy.
Jon Mariano,
Based on what my cousin tells me, there are no income taxes in the Middle East.
Florry:
Hindi intriga. It is more a deliberate attempt to destroy the integrity of Atty. Roque by insinuating that he cannot do what he has done on his own initiative and there must be some people funding his move.
So what if he is funded by his group. It is just what is expected although I know he can afford to go on his own to the USA and submit those documents that he and his group have prepared.
But I can assure you that among these people in this kind of advocacy for good government, more often than not, there are dedicate and committed ones who would move mountains to do what is right, even the impossible for the ingrates!
This reminds me of a placard I bought in the US when on a tour to LA from SFO, and it says: WE THE WILLING, LED BY THE UNKNOWING, ARE DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE UNGRATEFUL. WE HAVE DONE SO MUCH, WITH SO LITTLE, FOR SO LONG, WE ARE NOW QUALIFIED TO DO ANYTHING, WITH NOTHING!
Guess what? The above in fact is a quote from the wisdom of Mother Theresa
Jon,
Atty. Roque I believe belongs to a group of concerned lawyers at UP doing their best to correct misinterpretation of the law especially in connection with some shady government projects. The said group must be helping defray his expenses. When they ask for our help, then, we do help not just by giving money but all possible help and assistance we can offer like signing petitions they pass around, etc. This is where Ellen and her blog become handy.
Xenon,
I think that’s right. Most middle eastern countries don’t charge income taxes as they have enough money to go around. Even here in Hong Kong, the domestic helpers do not pay taxes because their salaries do not reach the minimum taxable amount as a single person’s personal exemption is 100,000 hkd, if married it’s 200,000 combined.
But many of us are taxes payers. That’s not the most compelling reason not to be taxed in the Philippines though. But double taxation is never good to anybody.
Is it fair to be taxed of what we earn outside of the Philippines? I think not. It’s as if we’re paying for being a Filipino.
What is fair is to pay taxes to the country where you earned your income. Because while being there, you’re getting services from that country. So because you’re earning your income in the Philippines and you get served by the Philippine government, it’s just fair to pay your taxes there. The loss of tax money due to corruption and inefficiency is a different issue altogether.
Besides, our income being sent home is almost like an equivalent. Don’t you agree? Also, when we buy real estate and other goods in the Philippines, we pay all the necessary taxes. I think that’s fair too.
agree with jon.double taxation is not fair.what is not fair is not paying taxes anywhere like many of our politicians in the pinas and a lot of business people i suppose who have connections. i just read from a digested report in a newspaper some time ago that only 35 percent of the collectible taxes in the pinas is being collected.whoever will lead after gma must make this as a priority, i.e., to collect taxes justifiably.
I should seriously think of packing up and going abroad with my family. Why should I pay income tax to the Philippine government when other Filipinos do not pay any just because they are abroad? I suppose other governments will not shaft me if I pay taxes to them. I am sure my big white brothers will welcome me with a hug, a pat on the head, and a big bar of Hershey’s chocolate (yummmy).
My father, bless his soul, was right when he said that there are no patriots when you start talking taxes.
As a lawyer like Atty. Harry Roque might say: I rest my case.
Agree with you, Jon!
Spartan: “I’m sorry but please pardon my “cluelessness”, what is this ROPE thing? ”
Hahahah!
If you read ellen’s blog under “coup jitters” and under a couple of previous posts by her, ROPE is discussed at length in those posts.
You are welcome to join.
Toney Cuevas is president and Ellen is (I hope she agrees) honorary chairman.
The aim of the ROPE is to punish Gloria, Fatso and Bolate by tying them with yellow Manila hemp and by hanging them from the highest lamp post. (ROPE stands for Right of Punishment Eternal for Gloria Macapagqal Arroyo!)
ROPE members have come up with a kind of task for each.
It’s fun!
Ellen, you’re right. We can even have the three of them and that will be the greatest team of all time. FATHER, BROTHER AND SON. It’s unbeatable.
Nagyayabang na isang bihasang economist si tiyanak eh ang alam lang niya patawan ng buwis ang mga mamamayan. Suportahan natin ang ipinaglalaban ni Roque. Ano ba ang ginagawa ng mga Fil-Am sa US? Nasaan ang mga sikat na taong tulad ng isang Elsa Bayani (tama ba?), Rodel Rodis at kung sino-sino pang maporma at mayayabang? Kung magkaisa lang ang mga Pinoy sa Tate at mag-rally ng mag-rally, tiyak ang maagang bagsak ni tiyanak lalo pa’t asar ang Washington sa kanya ngayon.
Jon,
Same here in Japan. If the income is below the minimum wage of 120,000 yen, there is no tax imposed, and even when you are taxed, the government makes sure to make refunds especially for medical expenses, etc. that are considered deductible.
This, I guess is the reason why it is imperative for companies to raise the salaries of their employees annually, for bigger salaries mean bigger taxes!!!
I don’t mind paying my taxes especially when I know for a fact where my contributions go. In a way, nababawi rin in services rendered by the bureaucracy.
In the Philippines, dayaan pa pati pag-collect ng taxes! And why pay when you know that your money is only going to be stolen or squandered by this crook who calls herself “president” and thinks that it is her right and privilege to do that especially when she feels like going overseas to “pasikat”!
Kawawang bansa!
I really despise this immoral bansot.
I despise her so much that I pleaded with my journalist friend not to write about the “exclusive interview” that Gloria accorded the Philippine star while the bansot in Brussels, so much so that the copy submitted was all about the rally only!
And apparently, my friend’s report on the rally and the pic taken were the only ones that were published in Philippine papers front page.
I was told that Gloria was so upset and my friend was duly informed of Gloria’s being upset about the said report.
Good that she was upset. Dapat lang. Imagine wherever she went she was hounded by the extra-judicial killings issue and rallies (thanks Anna for being there and for giving us a first hand account). Wala na siyang ginawa kungdi mag-explain, which nobody believed. Serves her right.
jon, you’re right. hindi kami kinukunan dito sa saudi arabia ng income tax. lahat dito ay sinasagot ng employers in the form of ZAKAT, one of the pillars of Islam as what is written in the Qu’ran. ito ‘yung para sa charity kaya ang nakikinabang ‘yung who really it is intended to. hindi tulad sa pilipinas na ang lahat kinukurakot ng mga nakapwestong wala nang kabusugan. kung bakit ba kasi sa paghiga nila hindi pa sumabog ang mga tiyan.
Does anyone who personally know Atty. Harry Roque? It would be beneficial to us readers if his profile and background are posted in this blog. This way, the more we know this person the more interesting discussion would be.
Romania, Bulgaria recommended for EU -—–Yahoo!® News
By JAN SLIVA, Associated Press Writer
59 minutes ago
STRASBOURG, France – The European Commission recommended Tuesday that Bulgaria and Romania join the European Union next year — but under some of the harshest terms ever faced by new members.
The two Balkan nations have made enough progress to join the bloc on Jan. 1, 2007, the commission said in a much-anticipated report recommending that the 25 EU governments accept them.
But it added that a significant chunk of expected economic aid should be made conditional on the completion of further reforms needed in justice and home affairs, as well as food safety and state subsidies.
The decision to admit two of the poorest nations in Europe comes at a time of growing doubts about whether the bloc’s rapid expansion should continue to take in nations such as Turkey and Croatia in coming years.
EU leaders will meet next month to give formal approval to Romania and Bulgaria whose bid for membership bid had been stalled due to their spotty records on fighting corruption.
“Bulgaria and Romania have made further progress to complete their preparations for membership, demonstrating their capacity to apply EU principles and legislation from Jan. 1, 2007,” said the report presented by European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and the EU’s expansion commissioner, Olli Rehn.
Barroso said the entry of the two nations into the bloc would be a “historic achievement.”
Both countries will face restrictions in terms of their work force gaining access to other European Union markets. Britain, Sweden and Ireland, which opened the door to workers from the 10 newcomers who joined in 2004, are likely to set the strictest conditions. But they may also be shut out of labor markets in Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic — themselves battling restrictions by countries further west.
Bulgaria and Romania will have to regularly report on progress of their reform to Brussels, with the first report to come on March 31, 2007.
The 200 Largest Legal Departments
http://www.insidecounsel.com/issues/insidecounsel/pdfs/200List.pdf