Says P1 trillion lost to graft under GMA
by Ashzel Hachero
Malaya
Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III yesterday vowed not to impose new taxes or even increase tax rates if he is elected president.
“My vision is to transform our country into one where we have lower tax rates enjoyed by all, rather than have some enjoy absolute tax exemptions while we burden the rest of the economy with very high tax rates,” Aquino said.
Aquino spoke before businessmen and the diplomatic corps during the “Presidential Candidate Series” sponsored by the Makati Business Club at the Manila Peninsula Hotel.
Aquino’s “no new taxes” approach was similar to then US presidential candidate George H. W. Bush’s famous phrase “Read my lips: No new taxes” at the 1998 Republican National Convention when he accepted the nomination.
“With universal low tax rates, we will encourage entrepreneurs and enterprises to invest and create jobs in any industry,” Aquino said to wide applause from the audience.
He said an Aquino administration will pursue the rationalization of fiscal incentives to investors to lower the budget deficit and stem revenue losses.
Aquino said he believes that markets are better than government in spotting where growth opportunities are.
Experts said aside from corruption, tax evasion and inefficient collection efforts, the country is also hobbled by sluggish economic activity compared to its neighbors and the effect of last year’s twin typhoons (Ondoy and Pepeng) that devastated a large portion of the country, particularly in Metro Manila and Northern Luzon, traditionally the center of the country’s economic and business activity as well as its agricultural products.
Aquino cited that the tax effort has gone down from 17 percent at its peak to 13 percent, a development he noted as “worrisome.”
“If we can only bring back even to just the 15 percent level, that will translate to P150 billion in additional revenues, which would make a significant dent in cutting our deficit,” he said.
He said the Bureau of Internal Revenue collection dropped by 5.5 percent, while that of the Bureau of Customs declined by 16.6 percent.
This year, the budget gap is expected to hit P293 billion from last year’s P290 billion.
The BIR has set a P830 billion collection target this year.
Aquino said that last year alone, around P280 billion of the national budget was lost to corruption, adding that since the start of the Arroyo administration the figure could easily reach P1 trillion.
“If we take the years 2002 to 2009, the total estimates exceed one trillion pesos. Estimates vary, but everyone agrees the number is huge,” he said.
Aquino said his administration will strengthen existing programs such as the RATE, a joint program of the BOR and the Department of Finance. RATE stands for Run After Tax Evaders.
“Our initial focus will be to capture a good part of the revenue leaks. In this effort, we will not be starting from zero. Be assured that those smugglers and tax evaders are not faceless and unknown entities,” he said.
He said those who conceptualized and initially ran the RATE program are now with his team and that he would pool their talents during his administration.
Aquino also took a dig at his rivals, including a veiled reference to Sen. Manuel Villar.
“If we agree that change is necessary, how can a presidential aspirant, whose own financial and political ethics are questionable, be effective in leading transformation as the head of the bureaucracy? How can a leader, who is benefiting from status quo, be able to restore a civic sense and pride in our citizenry? The leader, who has used public office for private gain, will always be the most committed enemy of change,” he said.
Aquino’s speech in full:
A Philippines that works:economic vision and platform
Officers and members of the Makati Business Club, Your Excellencies of the diplomatic corps, ladies and gentlemen, my friends and countrymen.
Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to address you. I trust your asking me first is not based on alphabetical order, or based on age, but perhaps, based on who you think will most likely win the coming election.
As managers, you recognize that one of the necessary skills of an effective manager is time management. Is it possible that you have invited me to determine if there is still a necessity to spend time with the others?
Baka naman inuna niyo ako upang malaman kung sapat na ako at hindi na kailangang pansinin yung iba?
I think we are all aware of the problems facing our country. We share the same statistics. We probably even share the same conclusions about the need for better governance. To rehash all of these problems at this forum would be a waste of your time. But what we have now is an opportunity for you to get to know me, to find out the advocacies that I champion, the perspective and philosophies I bring to the equation and some of my proposed solutions to give an insight into my inner persona.
Levity aside, the political exercise that we will engage in this May is a crucial one. It will be, as it is for every fledgling democracy, a test of the strength of our political institutions. The peaceful transition of power has become a symbol of political maturity across the world, with many still failing to achieve the credibility that is the cornerstone of a genuine political mandate. With the electoral scandals that have stalled our democratic progress as of late, it is not a test that we can afford to fail.
We have an administration whose mandate is clouded in doubt and overshadowed by allegations of fraud because it refused every opportunity to clear the air and be held to account. Its choices have limited its decision-making to seeking ways to ensure day-to-day political survival and self-interest. We must now become a government committed to accountability. A government that works with the people in achieving long-term change.
We must make the shift from bare economic survival to robust economic growth. We must make the change from treading water to keep afloat, to reaching that promised shore where we can all stand tall as healthy, happy, educated and responsible fellow citizens.
But why does transformation seem like such an impossible dream?
Isa sa mga tema ng ating kalaban, yung “ang pagbabago, madaling sabihin yan pero mahirap gawin,” is probably echoed by a lot of Filipinos. The oft-repeated question is, why can’t we advance? Why can’t we progress? What is it in us that limits or prohibits our growth as a people and as a country?
All of you are aware that most of the contenders have had years, possibly even decades, of preparation for this electoral exercise. I had no such ambitions to run in the 2010 elections but I responded to the people’s clamor. I am but the face of what we believe is the overwhelming demand of our people to repudiate everything wrong in the current administration.
Given that I only announced my decision to seek the presidency on September 9, and I only came to that decision the day before, I have not had material time comparable to our opponents. What is perplexing is that viewing the same problems, and having access to the same data for the most part, we believe the solutions have been there all along, and necessitate only clear political will to execute. But most of our opponents seem to indicate the contrary opinion that there is very little that we can do to change the situation. One has to wonder: did they overstudy the problem, or are they committed to preserving the status quo?
If the leader is not convinced that change is not only necessary, but extremely possible, how does he lead us to the promised land?
What is it that we want to change?
We want to repair the damage that has been wrought on our democratic institutions by those who have sought to manipulate them for their own selfish ends.
We want to improve the situation of our people, who have suffered years of neglect because of a self-absorbed leadership obsessed with political survival.
They are poor. Many of them are homeless. Each year, we add some 2.5 million mouths to feed to our already hungry population. Of these new additions, one third were the result of unplanned pregnancies. We have a growing underclass that statistics tell us have given up looking for work. A permanent underclass that includes the five million of our countrymen that are illiterate, which means their opportunities in life will always be limited to living hand-to-mouth.
We want to give our young the opportunity and means to improve their lot in life. It can only begin if our children and their parents are assured that money spent on education is money well spent. Unfortunately, students are at the mercy of our decrepit education system that allows double shifting, erroneous textbooks and substandard nursing schools to exist. No less than DepEd officials admitted that students in Grade 1 take three subjects in one class period. We have a procurement program so heedless of the need for excellence that it doesn’t care if it produces a textbook series riddled with 500 factual errors. For every hundred kids that start grade school with the hope of achieving their dreams, only fourteen will graduate from college and possess a tangible means to materially improve their lives.
To my mind, the crucial, lacking element in all these is a government committed to a transformation: from a society overwhelmingly poor to one overwhelmingly middle class. In every developed, progressive, prosperous democracy, it is the middle class that is the biggest class. Government, for one, has failed to make the conceptual leap from patronage to development. Efforts at feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, providing basic care to the sick, and offering a quality education aren’t only the people’s rights; they are the essential tools for individual self-improvement
In 1998, when I first campaigned for office, one lady bluntly told me that regardless of who is elected, things would remain the same for her.
What did she mean?
That she was poor to begin with; that she would remain poor, and in fact, she would be lucky if she didn’t end up poorer, after the candidates leave office.
This brings up the question at the forefront of the minds of our countrymen still undecided on whom to vote for, and pursued by my critics. If this is a time that calls for national transformation, am I qualified to be that transformative leader? Having answered the call of duty, can I ask you or anyone to entrust me with your vote, on faith alone? Never having sought the presidency, I preferred to do my duty and not seek the limelight. Now that I have been thrust in the limelight, it is only fair to answer the question: before you tell us what we can do, what have you done?
I have always believed that the job of an effective legislator goes beyond merely proposing laws, for what are laws but written agreements entered into by members of society on how to harmonize their mutual relations? In fact, I do not believe that we suffer from the problem of too few laws. One of my proposed measures was the recodification of laws, in response to an appeal from the legal community to put some order into our laws, their amendments and those that have been repealed, because even our lawyers are at times confused.
Consider the recent controversy over who gets to appoint the next Chief Justice. We maintain that there are no ifs and buts in Article 7 Section 15 of the Constitution where it states that the current President cannot appoint anybody within two months prior to a presidential election up to the end of her term. An exemption exists, but it applies only for positions in the Executive Department. Yet you have two retired justices arguing exactly the opposite. How can former justices of the Supreme Court be so seemingly confused, when the fact is that the provision regarding presidential appointments is stated clearly in the law?
Our problem is the lack of political will to faithfully implement the many world-class laws that our legislature has passed. A preference for ambiguity even when times call for clarity, leads to artificial controversies. Insecure or overly ambitious leaders need to create a climate of doubt, because it’s in the grey areas that its ambitions thrive.
It is in addressing this problem that I focused on the fiscalizing aspect of a legislator’s job – on Congress’ oversight and investigative functions.
Consider intelligence funds. In the proposed 2010 budget, a total of 1.4 billion was allocated to confidential and intelligence funds.
Woodrow Wilson once wrote that oversight is always preferable to investigation, which is like putting out a fire instead of preventing one. We proposed that if the Executive wants orderly transactions, at least a few members of Congress should be privy to all of the details to determine if they were spent properly. However, this proposal was dismissed out of hand without even a single hearing for the reason that they undermined the Executive’s privileges.
And yes, the investigations were a vital part of my functions, too. I don’t think anyone will begrudge me my efforts in this regard. From Hello Garci and the impeachments, to NBN-ZTE and the fertilizer scam, I did my duty at the forefront of these issues.
The original design of the NBN-ZTE project required a BOT agreement between government and the supplier, not a government loan. But during the NBN-ZTE hearings, we learned that the project was entered into through a government loan despite instructions to the contrary from no less than the President herself. The cost of the intended government loan was P40 billion, (in which P16 billion was for the backbone and P24 billion was for the CyberEd project.) Jun Lozada belied this when he cited P5 billion as the actual cost of the entire project. Ito yung sinasabi niyang kalakaran ng gobyerno, kung saan sa sobrang laki ng patong, bubukol na.
SCTEx took around 8 years to construct before it finally opened. Projects of this scale normally require two years to complete. Furthermore, when SCTEx finally became operational, it was found that the central hub, which was Clark, did not have an exit, excluding Clark from the Subic Clark Tarlac expressway itself. How can one justify these kinds of delays where opportunities are lost, costs have escalated and the people’s burdens, instead of being reduced, end up being compounded?
My active role in these congressional hearings has put me at odds with the administration. In 2005, it cost me my post as Deputy Speaker. It continues to put me at odds with the coalition of self-interest that currently holds power. It puts me at odds with other candidates for the presidency.
To lead transformation, you cannot be part of the problem. As I said when I accepted the people’s draft, the job of chief executive is about the efficient allocation of resources. If you have hogged those resources for yourself, if you have lied, cheated, and stolen to gain power, how can you be trusted to lead the transformation our country needs?
Going back on the issue of appointing a Chief Justice prior to the forthcoming elections. If we are to transform the country, it begins with doing what we can, now, to limit the damage and give our people a fighting chance to rebuild our damaged institutions. The Constitution imposes a blanket prohibition with few exceptions concerning midnight appointments. A candidate cannot ask for the people’s mandate, pledging to improve the situation tomorrow, if he becomes complicit in worsening the situation today.
Hindi naman mahirap gawin ang tama. Alam naman ng lahat yan eh. Wala namang magic, wala namang sikreto. Pero bakit pilit pa ring ginagawa ang mali?
There is a widespread perception that success in the business milieu can almost be directly correlated to your closeness to the powers-that-be. Because of this, some players in the industry are forced to focus their activities on maintaining relationships in order to retain the favors that they receive in exchange for cultivating that relationship. This has fostered the wrong kind of competitiveness. While it may work, locally, for now, it has not enabled these players to become competitive in the world market, where the rules of the game do not take special relationships into consideration.
We will encourage free and fair competition in a level playing field. One not need be a crony in order to succeed in the field of business. More importantly, government will not compete with business. Nor will government use its regulatory powers to extort, intimidate and harass.
We will transform our systems to foster service to the public instead of making citizens jump through hoops. We will streamline the approval process, not only for setting up new businesses but also in the regular day-to-day transactions with government, such as the payment of taxes. We will do this on a national as well as the local level.
In 2010, our next President will inherit a continually bloating deficit. As of November 2009, the deficit of the national government already reached P272.5 billion, or 4.1% of GDP.
In addressing the looming fiscal crisis, good governance and the drive against corruption are critical components in our strategy. We will refrain from imposing new taxes or increasing tax rates.
I strongly believe that we can collect more taxes at the BIR and higher duties at Customs if we become more serious in curbing and punishing tax evasion and smuggling. The BIR’s collection dropped by 5.5%, while that of Customs declined by 16.6%. This is the first time in recent history that absolute revenues have actually declined.
Our initial focus then will be to capture a good part of the revenue leaks caused by smuggling and evasion. In this effort, we will not be starting from zero. Be assured that those smugglers and evaders are not faceless and unknown entities. The ideas to improve tax administration and to control smuggling have been there for some time and some programs have been initiated in the past. One of these successful programs was the RATE or Run After Tax Evaders. In fact, some of the people at the Department of Finance and the BIR who have tried to implement reforms before are with us now, and together with reform-minded career executives, we intend to put their commitment and talents to good use under my administration.
My vision is to transform our country into one where we have lower tax rates enjoyed by all, rather than have some enjoy absolute tax exemptions while we burden the rest of the economy with very high tax rates. I believe that markets are better than government in spotting where the growth opportunities are, and, with universal low tax rates, we will encourage entrepreneurs and enterprises to invest and create jobs in any industry. We will, therefore, pursue the rationalization of fiscal incentives early in my administration.
There is a lot of room for our revenue base to grow. Our tax effort has gone down from 17% at its peak to a worrisome 13% today. If we can only bring this back even to just the 15% level, that will translate to P150 billion in additional revenues, which would make a significant dent in cutting our deficit.
My budget team estimates that for 2009 alone, around P280 billion of our national budget was lost to corruption. If we take the years 2002 to 2009 the total estimates exceed one trillion. Estimates vary, but everyone agrees that the numbers are huge.
If we agree that change is necessary, how can a Presidential aspirant, whose own financial and political ethics are questionable, be effective in leading transformation as the head of the bureaucracy? How can a leader, who is benefiting from the status quo, be able to restore a civic sense and pride in our citizenry? The leader, who has used public office for private gain, will always be the most committed enemy of change.
Rich or poor alike, we have a tangible experience of the sorry state of public infrastructure at present: traffic, which eats up time, which as the saying goes, is money. Railways are built at bloated cost; urban transport is constructed, but not enough trains are on track. Our people are the first to experience the effect of something that works and conversely, something that is badly done because bad intentions handicapped the project from the start.
It is time that our infrastructure agencies and LGUs transform into cooperative ventures with the private sector by bringing forth an agreed public infrastructure program, based on a cohesive plan that optimizes the value of the entire network. In our conversations with members of the private sector, there has been a lot of positive feedback about possibly working with government on this endeavor.
To transform infrastructure projects from sources of waste and scandal into examples of cooperation and efficiency, we will set objective criteria for different types of projects and develop a scorecard that will assess various projects against benchmarks transparent to the public.
Initially we want our infrastructure program to transform from being the means to enrich a few, to being labor-intensive and biased for employment as a means to pump-prime the economy.
When I read about countries that have invested in their agriculture sectors and succeeded, it always pains me to find that these countries – Vietnam and Thailand, to name just a couple – had started by sending their experts to be educated in the Philippines. It seems that we cannot implement among ourselves the lessons we successfully imparted to experts from elsewhere. This will have to change. We must be able to harness our homegrown talent in order to further our local industries.
When we change administrations, there must be a complete review of all the programs in the Department of Agriculture. We can do a lot for our farmers given the present budget of the Department if we eliminate the leaks and focus on the efficient use of resources. For example, we must stop eating up millions in mere administrative costs as in the case of NABCOR, which charged our government P60 million because it served as a useless conduit to regional offices. We will also support efforts such as supply chain management that minimizes losses, creates jobs, consults with stakeholders, and capitalizes on our competitive advantage.
Our core belief is that the current approach to governance and power must change. That is why our terms of reference always begin with the present government, what it has done, and how different our institutions and our nation must be six years from June 30, 2010.
In a small-scale operation it is easy for everyone involved to visualize that entity as the combination of their collective efforts. As opposed to, say, when you are a bigger firm, and there is the management side and there is the labor side. In Tagalog, it’s even more dramatic. Kayo at kami, sa halip na tayo.
We must find a unity that transcends the divisions of today, based on a shared commitment to transforming our country into one that works: One where traffic flows well, garbage is collected efficiently, crimes are solved, justice is served, and our kids are educated properly. It works in the sense that you do not have to flee the country to move up in the world, improve your lot in life, and rise to the highest level your personal merits can achieve.
We are a nation of sacrifice, of diligence, dedication and, idealism, because we are a people imbued with compassion even when we have officials who lie, cheat, and steal. Our faith teaches us that we are our brother’s keeper. Our logic should tell us that in taking care of others, their growth equals our own.
In the movie “Invictus,” Nelson Mandela says, “In order to rebuild our nation, we must exceed our own expectations.” It requires us to insist, always, that we are not a nation of crooks, of thieves, of murderers who get off scot-free and where justice is won by the highest bidder.
In May, you will be asked to make a choice. Will you choose transformation and change or will you choose to uphold the status quo?
We have already made our choice. Ours is a journey towards transformation. I ask you today to join us in this journey now.
Thank you.
Says P1 trillion lost to graft under GMA
Oh? 1 trillion pesos lost to graft. Hear that… lost to graft.
Either the next president makes sure that the culprits are punished or proposes that we move on…
Which will it be?
“Universal low tax rates.” What do this mean? Everyone knows that Low is a relative term. So, low to whom?
Also, no new taxes or no increase in taxes can mean cuts in services which would affect low income families(Yari na naman ang mga mahihirap)
Not to preclude Sen. Aquino’s pronouncements/political ads, but we won’t really know what his proclamations mean until we see his proposals in black and white.
The 800 executives who listened to NoyNoy speech gains for “universal tax rate”, right?
The 20%-of-population who live on a dollar-a-day gain from “universal low tax rates” NoyNoy, right?
Laban sa kahirapan, mga kawawa naman.
Wow! Noynoy doing a George Bush.That pledge was the centerpiece of Bush’s acceptance address, for his party’s nomination at the 1988 Republican National Convention. It was a strong, decisive, bold statement, and you don’t need a history degree to see where this is going. As presidents sometimes must, Bush raised taxes. His words were used against him by then-Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton in a devastating attack ad during the 1992 presidential campaign.
Why Noynoy could not come-up with something,instead of copying the senile George Bush? Like do a “Joe the Plumber” tax cuts.
Do “Joe the Plumber” Noynoy Tax Policies.
The rich are not affected with taxes,no matter how they spin the dice.
Ang kawawa diyan ay ang mga ordinaryong masa dahil kahit kakainin nila ay pinapatungan pa ng EVAT.Pati yata kabaong ay may EVAT pa.
Mga “Lords” lang yata ang exempted magbayad ng taxes.
Mas maganda kung lahat ng simbahan at religion ay magbabayad ng tax. Ang daming collection nila tuwing may misa at samba.
Says P1 trillion lost to graft under GMA
___
The more we need to have a strong, independent,and well funded judiciary to curb this! Sino kaya sa mga presidentiable ang talagang magbibigay pansin dito?
Macapagal-Arroyo just raised salaries for Pinas judges. That should help. KARMA will be that if a judge next year or next next year convicts GMA, that same judge benefits from the latest pay raises.
Not literally judges pay but more on funding our Judiciary to be able to function effectively when addressing graft and corruption cases in our country!
Kaya maraming magnanakaw sa gobyerno dahilan na rin sa kabagalan ng hustisya. Since Ramos adminsitration to GMA, mukhang walang pagbabago sa kabagalan ng galaw ng Sandigan bayan?
P1-trillion lost to corruption.
It will not surprise me if 20% to 40% of that P1-trillion lost went to folks now pro-NoyNoy, considering the musical chair as people positioned themselves for May2010 elections since GMA is “lame-duck”.
The “What are we in power for?” question will be asked by Malacanang insiders and cronies no matter who gets to replace GMA, hindi ba ganoon?
“Also, no new taxes or no increase in taxes can mean cuts in services which would affect low income families(Yari na naman ang mga mahihirap)”
Sorry, Isagani, but I don’t think so.
If government corruption is cured (or substantially curved), there would be enough for the poor to share without increasing taxes. Noynoy’s full speech at MBC @ http://www.equalizerpost.com.
True. That’s why it’s important to have a president who has strong position against graft and corruption! It’s means accountability later on kahit na maraming political butterflies in their group. This is also true for erapians, villar group, and the like.
Just last week my friends were complaining about additional fees on top of the regular fee required for renewing business licenses, plus this new “seal” or “sticker” Teves is proposing (another fee) on top of the regular for the liquor producers. Customs are imposing just lately an additional 100Usd/container, etc…
Strangely, with JPEPA, AKFTA, the government has lifted tariffs on most importations (or lowered considerably) coming from Japan, Korea, and six ASEAN countries.
Bottomline, Noynoy is just saying that we don’t need additional taxes, just take the collection seriously and make sure the national budget (which is actually borrowed money mostly) are spent wisely…
…now if he just adds “If elected President, I box never to steal directly/indirectly, not even take money from illegal numbers’ games like jueting, (so the police officials can follow suit).” It would be a tough act to follow, for no one, least of all Erap, can do that now, because these jokers will need to recover whatever they spent on the election…
If we really wants change and to make this election meaningful, whoever will be the new head of our bureaucracy, graft and corruption needs to be contained and we the people should demand this to happen! Else, kahit gaano pa kagaganda proyekto ng gobyerno kung ang allocation naman ay mawawala dahilan sa nakawan, ala din silbi ito!
Thats the way to go Noynoy! Now you’re making sense!
admin,
(for your info only)
I’m simply curious why my comment (#11) needs moderation or didn’t pass moderation? While new as a registrant, I’m an avid follower and admirer of this blogsite. Am I missing something? Thanks.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3567745.stm
GRAFT TOP TEN
Suharto: $15-35bn
(Indonesia, 1967-98)
Ferdinand Marcos: $5-10bn
(Philippines, 1972-86)
Mobutu Sese Seko: $5bn
(Zaire, 1965-97)
Sani Abacha: $2-5bn
(Nigeria, 1993-98)
Slobodan Milosevic: $1bn
(Yugoslavia, 1989-2000)
J-C Duvalier: $300-800m
(Haiti, 1971-86)
Alberto Fujimori: $600m
(Peru, 1990-2000)
Pavlo Lazarenko: $114-200m
(Ukraine, 1996-7)
Arnoldo Aleman: $100m
(Nicaragua, 1997-2002)
Joseph Estrada: $78-80m
(Philippines, 1998-2001)
Source: Transparency International.
Saan nanggaling yang alleged 78-80 million dolares na ninakaw ni Erap?
Anim na taon na nilitis si Erap sa allegation na plunder e walang silang mahanap na nagnakaw si Erap ng pera ng bayan.
Kaya wa epek yang Transparency International sa mga botante.
Si Noynoy magkano ba ang ninakaw nya sa taong bayan sa SWETEK nya o SCTEX? Alam mo ba? Eleven years syang Congressman ng district nya sa Tarlac at tumatanggap sya ng 70 million pesos every year. Ano ang ginawa nya sa 770 million pesos na binagay sa kanya ng bayan? Pakitingnan mo nga ang bulsa ng autistic na yan.
If P1-trillion was lost to corruption then here’s what Gloria has to say: “The next president after me will be lucky!”
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100122-248786/Arroyo-Next-president-is-lucky
Iyon lang ba ang highlight sa speech nya?
Di ba n’ya sinabi kung sino nagturo sa kanya na sabihin ‘yon?
Sa lahat ng napakinggan ko sa tao na ‘to, di organize at walang coherence ang kanyang pananalita. Beating around the bush.
Now he sounds just like Bush.
Read my lips ba ‘kamo?
Huwag na lang ‘Noy. Baka matalsikan pa ako.
No new taxes or even no increase in taxes will only benefit the rich and don’t mean anything to the poor.
Makati business executives, big stakeholders and big earners will be having a tax holiday, because they don’t have to pay their income taxes at an increased rate, while the poor laborers who earned not even the minimum wage, the hawkers and the unemployed who in the first place don’t even have to file income tax will get no benefit at all because they don’t have any income to file or even if they have it will only be eaten up by the personal and basic exemptions. So what benefit then this has to do with the poor people who are the majority in this country? Leaders should take a look at how they can best serve the poor by adopting social programs and provide better education and employment. There’s no more need for new or increase in taxes. Enough taxation laws are already in place and what is needed is the proper and strict implementation so that money collected goes directly to the treasury. The main problem of the country is corruption and not about taxes. Elimination of corruption will result in better tax collection. So whether to introduce a new tax or increase tax rate is not an important election issue. It’s only an issue for the rich because they are the ones affected.
It’s no wonder then that the audience which composed of Makati business owners and executives gave him a wild applause because they are assured that they don’t have to pay tax at a higher rate.
Now if Noynoy really want to make a statement, he should make a vow to eliminate entirely the EVAT. That tax is the unnecessary evil that brought sufferings to the people especially the poor and the principal sponsor of that tax is Recto who is in his team. It’s just unconscionable that you have to pay the tax called EVAT before you can bury a dead starting from the lot and for all services.
BTW, did he say anything to define the universal low rate tax?
Mukhang wala sa listahan ng mga corrupt si Ramos at si Gloria. Sila pa naman yata ang pinakamalaking buwaya sa Pilipinas. Ang babait naman pala nila.
Thats the way to go Noynoy! Now you’re making sense!
Making sense of WHAT? Igan Juggernaut….!
Alam mo ba kung sinu-sino ang handlers ni Noynoy? Hallucination lang ito ni Noynoy coz’e isa sa handlers niya e si e-vat Recto?
No way…at walang aasahan yang si Yellow Fever, isa yan sa EDSA DOS conspirators kaya dapat panagutan nila ang kawalanghiyaan nila sa taong bayan?
Yong 1T na kinulimbat ng mga lingkod-bulsa ng rehimeng Arroyo e krus na papasanin ng mga darating na henerasyon ng kabataang Pinoy?
Sino ngayon ang aako ng mga kagaguhan nila di ba tayong Mamamayang Pinoy…wala na nga silang maibigay na trabaho e gagatasan pa nila tayo ng kung anu-anong taxes?
Read my lips ba ‘kamo?
Huwag na lang ‘Noy. Baka matalsikan pa ako.
At….ako din Igan SumpPit!
Si Noy Yellow Fever ang extension ng EDSA DOS asshole na kumalas sa rehimeng Arroyo…NGAYON ang lalakas ng loob na kesyo sila ang ANO?
Puro sila pahirap sa bayan!
Anim na taon na nilitis si Erap sa allegation na plunder e walang silang mahanap na nagnakaw si Erap ng pera ng bayan?
Yan ang hirap sa mga bystanders nating kababayan Pinoy…Igan Xman, mga row 4 ang takbo ng kukote at ang hirap magsiintindi ng aritmitik…kasi nga ang alam sa buhay e puro drawing lang?
Alam mo Igan Jansen…yong numero nabasa mo e hearsay lang yan? Ano ba ang ikinaso ng Sandigan ni Gloria kay citizen Erap, di ba ANAK ng WETENG?
Sino ang may gawa nito…di ba si Sabit Singson, at yong inilathala ng PCIJ at iba pang newsmedia na anti-Erap? Pero di ito bumenta, kundi nagkutsabaan ang EDSA DOS wannabees na by hook or by crook mapasakanila ang Malacanang…di ba nangyari ito at pasang-krus nating lahat for 10-years kaya ngayon sige ipaliwanag nýo ang 1T na kinulimbat ng rehimeng Arroyo?
Sino ngayon ang aako nito upang bayaran ang pagkakautang ng Pinas? Ngayon, itong si Noy Yellow Fever na magyayabang na walang daw tax e ngayon nga problemado ang mga lapdogs ni Gloria kung saan kukunin ang bilyones na deficit ng gobyerno?
At kababasa ko lang sa pahayagan na plano ng gobyerno na magbenta ng treasury bill sa mga OFWs sa dolyares at euro?
Huwag mo na kaming bolahin Noy sapagka’t bistado na ang iyong hasang?
That’s bec. of our poor bureaucracy and unstable leadership from GMA. But if we have a strong nation and a firm leadership, there would be no higher taxes and that tax collection will be sustained. We need to prosecute GMA by our next president. Nobody can do that except Noynoy. Look at the rest of the presidentiables? Can they prosecute GMA? Like Teodoro, Villar or Erap? I don’t think so!
There is more to this than just the declaration of “no new taxes.” Please read the speech in its entirety here:
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/01/21/10/transcript-noynoy-aquinos-speech-makati-business-club
xman, one small request: please give the term “autistic” a rest. If you can prove that Noynoy stole from the SCTex project, then you are contributing to the discussion. If not, then you only succeed at being offensive not only toward Noynoy but also toward children suffering from autism and their parents, all of whom are most deserving of respect.
Nobody can do that except Noynoy. Look at the rest of the presidentiables? Can they prosecute GMA? Like Teodoro, Villar or Erap? I don’t think so!
Opppsss! Kgg. Ken, i wonder about Noynoy…ano ba ang nagawa niya noong Congresman pa siya at ngayon ngang Senador e nagbutas lang yan ng sila sa Senado?
Only citizen have guts to lead the nation…sinalbahe lang siya nina Tabako, Kardinal Makasalanan, Tita Yello Fever, Makati Bwusitman, civil socialites at iba pa?
Mabubuking kasi si Tabako sa kanyang mga hocus-focus na scams kaya gusto niya itong mapagtakpan? Imagine, si citizen Erap lang ang nakabawi ng 46 MILF camps pero si Tabako ginawa pang kuta ng mga rebelde ang Narciso Highway.
Kung nabawi ni citizen Erap ang 46MILF camps without propagand like Gloria na tatapusin ang lahi ng mga NPA o Abu Sayaff within 6mos. e drawing lang pala ito.
middlemarch, the “autistic” comment came directly from Amb. Maceda. Now, Noynoy can sue LIBEL. So, what is he waiting for (Noynoy)? Is he afraid that his medical records will be in full view once he sue Amb. Maceda? Amb. Maceda is not stupid to say those things without medical records of Noynoy in his possession.
“Autistic” comment is solely and directly for Noynoy and no one else. PERIOD.
Noynoy is like Villar. They do not face Senate investigations? What are they hiding? They are cowards.
Erap faced his plunder charges head on because he knows he is innocent. He proved, his innocence.
Anyway, the question that should be asked about this AUTISTICAL copycat phrase, “Read my lips: No new taxes” is this:
Does this serve the agenda of the “Masses” or the agenda of big corporations which is controlled by the few and foreign bankers?
Noynoy is like Villar?
Exactly Igan Xman, parehong accountable yan sa pagpapatalsik kay Pres. Erap? EDSA DOS conspirators ang dalawang yan, at ang kakapal nang mga apog.
Di tayo aabot ng 10-years sa paglilingkod-bulsa ni Gloria kung may bait sa sarili ang mga iyan. Inagay nila ang Malacanang sa Masang Pilipino.
Bukas ang libro ng buhay ng Pangulong Erap sa Sambayanang Pilipino at tama ka di niya tinalikuran ang Masa sa kaliwa’t kanan batikos con Sandigan Bayan ni Gloria na lumitis sa listahan ni Sabit Singson at walang iba ang ANAK ng WETENG?
Sige…ano ang napala ng mga EDSA DOS asshole, pinagdiskitahan nýo ang weteng pero ang kabayaran nito e 1T na nilaspag ng rehimeng Arroyo + extra-judicial killings + Amapuwad massacre + di mabilang na scams?
Ngayon…kesyo ang dami nýo hirit e numero kayong pahirap sa bayan at traydor na masasabi sapagka’t inagaw nýo ang Malacanang by force.
In other word, “coup d’etat”? Huwag na kayong hihirit pa sapagka’t ang Icon ng Demokrasya kuno ay nag-I am SORRY na before siya kunin ni Lord.
Hayon…magkikita-kita na sila nina Kardinal Makasalan, Remonde at sino pa ang susunod?
Noong nag tataas ang presyo ng utilities katulad ng kuryente, tubig at iba pa. Sino sa mga presidential candidates ang tumututol sa walang katapusan na pagtaas ng presyo na talagang kawawa na ang bayan sa hirap?
May narinig ka ba kay Noynoy na tumutol sa pagtaas ng presyo ng utilities?
xman – January 22, 2010 8:50 pm
RE: Does this serve the agenda of the “Masses” or the agenda of big corporations which is controlled by the few and foreign bankers?
Simple lang Igan Xman…ang makikinabang niyan e ang isa ring naghudas noong 2001, walang iba ang Makati Bwusitman na handlers ni Noynoy?
At marami pang mga amuyong na nasa likod ni Noynoy at alam natin kung sinu-sino sila.
Tumpak ang sabi mo Igan Balweg, coup d’etat ang ginawa ni yellow Cory against the Philippine flag and the constitution.
Kaya maraming coup d’etat noong dahil illegal president si Cory Aquino. Mga gagong sundalo lang ang nagtanggol kay Cory. Yong rebel soldiers ang patriot.
May narinig ka ba kay Noynoy na tumutol sa pagtaas ng presyo ng utilities?
WALA Igan Xman, paanong hihirit yang si Noynoy e nabibilang din yan sa pamilyang Elitista at nagkukunwaring champion ng demokrasya?
Anong demokrasya mayroon ang Pinas…Wala! Kung pakakasuriin natin ang bawat nangyayari at pangyayari sa bansa natin e ano ba ang Pinas ngayon?
Ang sarap iduldol sa pagmumukha ng mga EDSA DOS wannabees ang kalagayan ng ating bansa at paghihirap ng kalooban ng marami nating kababayang Pinoy?
hhahahhaaaha…..sarap ngang iduldol
Kaya maraming coup d’etat noong dahil illegal president si Cory Aquino?
Exactly Igan Xman, di yan ibinoto ng Masang Pilipino? Ginawang alibi ang pagkamatay ni Ninoy upang mapasakanila ang kapangyarihan?
Sa 20-years ng Marcos regime kumpara sa 10-years ni Gloria e kayo na ang humusga + 12-Years (Tita Cory & Tabako)= ano ngayon ang Pinas?
Noong panahon ni Apo Macoy di naranasan ng mga Pinoy ang kumain ng pagpag, but after EDSA UNO…lalong naghirap ang Pinoy at nauwi sa paglilingkod-bulsa ang magsilbi sa bayan.
Ang lahat e gustong maging Pangulo ng bansa at pati barangay kapitan e nagpapatayan upang maupo lang sa kapangyarihan?
Ito ba ang demokrasya na gustong mangyari ng EDSA UNO wannabees? Extra-judicial killings, kaliwa’t kanang patayan ng dahil sa away-pamumulitika?
hhahahhaaaha…..sarap ngang iduldol?
Alam mo Igan Xman…karamihan sa mga lingkod-bulsa natin ngayon e mga pasaway noong panahon ni Apo Macoy…sila ang mga aktibista na kontra-Macoy regime.
But, ngayon sila naman ang mga naghaharing-uri na pahirap sa bayan.
Recycle lang ito…during their college days, kita mo ang iingay nila sa kalye…but kita mo sila ngayon ang bosing sa gobyerno at Yes Sir, Yes Maám?
Noong panahon ni Apo Macoy di naranasan ng mga Pinoy ang kumain ng pagpag…
Totoo yan Igan Balweg dahil noon ay nag e export pa tayo ng bigas sa ibang bansa. Ano ngayon? Tayo na ngayon ang the biggest importer of rice in the world. Puro overprice pa ang presyo ng bigas dahil sa kurakot. Sino ang nagbabayad non? Tayo at mga kamag anak natin.
There is a way around to that promise just in case, more deficit. Two elections ago, Premier McGuinty made the same promise, but with the Health Care budget teetering to either cut the services, he imposed the user fee of at least just around 3% of total health care expenditure, and called it premium, but later admitted it as Taxes in every sense (we pay it along with our provincial taxes, low income, senior and children exempted). now the province is having a whopping $24 Billions deficit and also just signed with Samsung to start the Windmill project to create 16000 jobs for another $7 Billions, and expect to lead the way in this alternative energy source and becomes the world Big exporter… it may work or it may not, but a promise of not raising taxes, is next to impossible to implement, but since the Term of the President is without Re-election, Go for it Noynoy, it will be a good vote getter and just concentrate on minimizing corruption when the voters give you the Mandate. that would be enough to compensate.
Ang gusto kong marinig, how he will address the Hacienda Luisita issue.
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/181877/hacienda-luisitas-past-haunts-noynoys-future
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/182195/corys-land-reform-legacy-may-test-noynoys-political-will
Curt Siodmak said “A man of conviction is often more to be desired than a man of experience.”
Among the top three, we could gather from the early campaign their personalities as regards corruption:
We know who is a man of conviction,
We know who is a man of experience, and
We know who is a man of experience PLUS conviction!
Yeah right, manufactured conviction!
We know who is a certified incompetent,
We know who is a certified thief, and
We know the family of incompetence and thieves, and traitors to the Philippine flag and its Constitution!
“karamihan sa mga lingkod-bulsa natin ngayon e mga pasaway noong panahon ni Apo Macoy…sila ang mga aktibista na kontra-Macoy regime.” — balweg
Sinabi mo pa “kapatid” … yong isa nga naging Pangulo pa at yong isa naman ay Senador pa hanggang ngayon. Habang buhay o naka-upo pa sa Gobyerno ang mga pasaway na mga taong ito … palagay ko ganito pa rin tayo. Wala kang asenso … wala kang ma-asahan sa Gobyerno. Kaya marami sa atin ang uma-alis para lang kumita. Nakaka-awa nga ang mga Pinoy ….. uma-alis puntang ibang Bansa para kumita lang tapos pinapalitan naman sila ng mga intsik, indian, koreano o iba pa …. basta’t may panlagay sila sa mga taong nasa Gobyerno … welcome sila sa atin.
“Erap faced his plunder charges head on because he knows he is innocent. He proved, his innocence.” — xman
Tumpak ka diyan Igan. Hinarap niya kung ano man ang ipinupukol sa kanya na mga akusasyon at kung ano man yong napatunayan nila (kung totoo nga) tinanggap niya kung ano man ang parusang iginawad sa kanya. Hinarap niya ang mga kalaban niya mukha sa mukha at yong mga ibang nag-akusa sa kanya ay isa isang bumabaliktad at isa na diyan si Cory. Hindi ko alam kung saan galing yong mga nakaw na ibinibintang sa kanya sa loob lang ng ilang taon. May nabalitaan ba tayo na corrupt ang mga naging Secretaries niya? May nabalitaan ba tayo na nagpatayo ng bahay ng mga anak niya sa Amerika? Karamihan ang yaman niya ay nasa kanya na bago pa naging Pangulo. Kung si Ramos nga sa Ayala Alabang na siya nakatira … ano ba ang naging trabaho niya at kung ano man magkano ang suweldo niya? Yang mga Arroyo na yan .. ano bang naging trabaho ng mga anak at nagkabahay sa Amerika?
Mga kababayan ko imulat niyo ang inyong naka-pikit na mga mata ….
Kung kay Noynoy naman basta’t ang alam ko wala siyang ginawa noong Congressman at Senador siya yon lang. Ayoko namang isangkot siya sa mga problema ng mga magulang niya. Kagaya rin ng Diyos na huhusgahan ka dahil sa mga pinaggagawa mo at hindi doon sa ginawa ng mga magulang at kapatid mo.
Kita niyo sila Satur Ocampo at Liza Maza …. nagmamartsa daw sila papuntang Mendiola at gunitain ang mga magsasakang namatay noong panahon ni Cory na ina ni Noynoy. Owwwwwww come-on magkano ang bayad niyo mula kay Villar? Akala ko matino kayo pero dehins pala. Puweeeee!!!!!!!
Pssst… thread ito ni Noynoy. Hehehe. Peace mga Igan. ✌ 😛
Middlemarch,re#25, is the speech in abs-cbn website different from the copy of Noynoy’s speech reproduced in the above article?
psst baka magwala c cris paag natalo si abnoy dadami ang mga special child kaya si villar ang kailangaan naatin para sa sugal y aasenso tyo at sa lupa bahay ay mawawala pa kay villar aasenso ang land graber at higit pa kay gma ang mkamit niyang kayamanan kay villar noynoy tayo para ang bayan ay lalong walang gloria
salamaat po
Funny, but I’ve read the whole post of Ellen earlier. When I clicked to read the comments then suddenly, save for the title, the article is gone.
Then I shut down the PC ‘cuz I’m monitoring 96-100% activity on my CPU. Clicked Task Manager but it won’t display. Sure signs of a virus attack.
Beware.
Pssst… thread ito ni Noynoy. Hehehe. Peace mga Igan. ✌
Opppsss…oo nga naman Igan Mike, senxia na ito kasing si Noynoy e gusto pa tayong gawing si Madam Auring eh…di naman tayo manghuhula?
Heto nagiging malikot tuloy ang ating imahinasyon sa nais ipakihulugan ng pobre…maging right or wrong ang ating pagka-unawa dito!
Tongue, so far my set is still ok. Article.. everything is still “visible” including article. Hmmm… saboteurs?
Becky, the speech above is the same one on the abs-cbn website.
It happened to me,too, tongue. Kahapon pa.
Yes, something went wrong. When you click the rest of the article, it’s gone.
When I reposted without the picture, it was okay. When I reposted the picture, the same problem occurred.
Will see if I can repost the picture.
Becky, I sent the abs-cbn URL because a few hours ago I did not see the full speech in Ellen’s post.
Di kaya may virus picture ni Noynoy? Joke lang po. 😛
Malamang merong gumugawa ng milagro dito sa site ni Ellen. Di (kung sino man siya) siguro nagustuhan mga comments na nababasa niya.
Can’t repost the article. Something’s wrong. Haaay.
UNIFFORS is down again.Bandwidth exceeded. Manuel Buencamino can’t believe it.
Hi Ellen. The entire article (with speech in full) is now visible. Just don’t include the photo; what is most important is the speech anyway.
Thanks, Middlemarch. I’ll have to find out later, why there’s a problem with posting the picture when it was okay last night.
Hindi grupo ni Noynoy yan, kay C5-Taga using same machine of the unana/pidalista . O, kaya pala I got a virus warning when I clicked Uniffors. Heavy and very funny kasi ang birada dun kay C5-Taga Villar.
Sure signs of a virus attack? Beware!
Really, Igan TonGuE-tWisTeD…dobleng ingat nga coz’ mahal ang magpaservice ng PC?
Kailangan protected ang ating PC ng anti-virus…para maiwasan kung may hacker(s) na maligaw dito sa Ellenville?
Igan balweg, hindi naliligaw ang hackers sa Ellenville, pinapasyalan talaga tayo at nakikibahay pa kadalasan. 🙂
Baka akala ng mga hackers, govt website tong ellenville at ito nman pinupuntirya nila…
Uma-angal na ang kampo ni Noynoy sa premature campaign nitong grupo ni Villar. Pag tuwing tanghali puro kulay Villar ang mga palabas sa ABS-CBN(Wowowee) at GMA7(Eat Bulaga). Basta’t may pera ka oks lang kahit saang station pa. Malaki talaga ang budget niya … papano kaya babawiin lahat ang mga gastos nila kung sa magkano lang naman ang suweldo ng isang Pangulo?
Sana ako rin batuhan lang ako ng dolyar nitong si Villar e di mag-iiba na din ang tono ko!!!!! lol …. biznez lang ito mga Igan.
Dumaan sa bahay ng ate ko ang mga bata ni Villar, binibili si ate at tatay ko ng P10,000. Sabi ng ate: “P6.22 bilyun ang piniga nya sa amin tapos kusing lang ang ibabalik niya may utang na loob pa kami na iboto sya!” Yan ang gusto ko sa aking kapatid, palaban. 🙂
pinapanood ko Eat Bulaga mula nagkaisip ako hanggang ngayon. Ngayon ko lang nakita eat bulag na halos garapalan na kung mag endorse na kandidato. Hindi ko to nakita nung panahon ni FPJ. Grabe na to! Iniisip ko pati Eat Bulaga, iboycott na din!
Hoy Eat Bulaga, 30years na ko. Kung ayaw nyong bumagsak, umayos kayo!
correction: Hoy Eat Bulaga, 30years na kayo…
Middlemarch, I didn’t notice the problem last night. I just read the speech yesterday.
Now the picture is gone. Never mind, what is important is the substance of the speech.
Just thinking, what’s Ralph “Mr. EVAT” Recto thinking with this no-new taxes stand of Noynoy? Di ba sampal sa kanya yan?
to Becky: Good question about eVAT, but Recto is, ahem, key player of NoyNoy’s economic team. Recto ay arkitekto kung ano ang mangyayari under NoyNoy admin about taxes.
“No new taxes” when I am preswident—————-NOYNOY
No salary increases either———–Waaaaaaaah !!!!!!!!
Noynoy needs a better speechwriter. Napaka-sophomoric ng tono. Sounds like all those speeches by kids running for the student council, or the law school government.
No new taxes. Ang gandang pakinggan. What is killing the Filipino youth is the debt yoked onto his/her neck by a profligate government of his parents/ generation. Wala ngang tax, babayaran mo naman ang utang na kinurakot.
Dumaan sa bahay ng ate ko ang mga bata ni Villar, binibili si ate at tatay ko ng P10,000.
Bravo Igan Chi, maging milyong Pinoy ang tulad ng iyong mga mahal sa buhay my konsensya?
Ang hirap sa iba nating kababayan…ibinenta ang boto? Pagkatapos isang damakmak ng reklamo sa buhay ang madidinig natin…in short, mga reklamador.
Nawa e yaong 10-years na pahirap ng rehimeng Arroyo ay maging lesson sa lahat or else…pare-pareho tayong magtiis sa hirap ng buhay.
Atleast kahit papaano e mayroong tayong pinagkakakitaan at paano na yaong mga bystanders na walang magawa sa buhay?
There’s no viable candidates this time other than Noynoy. Noynoy is the hope of our country. 12 years from Erap & GMA and what happened? Do we need more to vote for Villar & Teodoro? Can we allow another 6 years from another Pro-GMA candidates or a GMA puppet? May God help our beloved country.
A commenter of one Pinoy blogger I came across said these some months back:
She was in Pinas visiting from abroad when one day, she was approached in her parent’s house by two supposed government workers. She was told to “just sign” the ballot or election forms, and that’s that. After she left Pinas, her employer overseas was the one who decided to blog it after learning of her story.
Kung ayaw natin sa uto-uto at sa halip ang pipilin ay ang may sariling desisyon, i think Gordon and Bayani can do the job.
Maliwanag ang vision ng mga ‘to.
Totoo na may nagagalit na mga masa dahil sa lupit ng disiplina ni Bayani. Di ba ito ang ating kailangan? Disiplina?
Ang ginawa ni Bayani sa EDSA (high quality overpass, sidewalk clearing) ay ‘di gawain ng isang typical na politiko. Kahit sino ang tatamaan. Ang politiko ay nagkakanlong ng mga squatter para sa dagdag na boto.
The problem with Bayani’s mindset is that the government itself has no complementary program that would alleviate the plight of the poor. OK ang disiplina pero dapat may kaakibat na programa upang may trabaho sa probinsiya… Ergo, kasalanan ni Glueria, di ni Bayani.
Gordon has done the impossible in Subic…
Totoo na mabigat ang desisyon ng pagsama ni Lozada sa dapat sampahan re ZTE Scam. Dapat lang naman na masama siya upang ang korte na ang maghusga kong may kasalanan ba siya o wala, di ba?
The only problem they have is that they serve under a bogus leadership. But nobody can deny the fact that they have served well.
To those who have lost Lacson and Escudero can still gamble on this Transformers: Gordon-Bayani.
Ang isang uto-uto sa Cebu kahapon:
Q: What can you do about the rampant corruption in the Gov’t?
Erap: Corruption? Ohh, i’ve been there!
To those who have lost Lacson and Escudero can still gamble on this Transformers: Gordon-Bayani.
———————————————-
Kay Bayani pa siguro, Gordon? the blabbermouth, no way! Unfortunately, we need “winnable” candidates, or else these jokers are just there for splitting the votes, ensuring the admin candidates win…
Gamble on Gordon-Bayani? Now way at this point in time when my priority is to get Gloria Arroyo out of my consciousness! Some other elections na lang kapag wala na completely ang Gloria-Villar-Gibo team.
tama sila, walang epekto sa rich ang low o high taxes. di naman sila mga paid employees e.