Militants from the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) lambasted the plan of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration to implement a new tax measures program. According to Danilo “Ka Daning” Ramos, secretary general of the group “these new taxes would only make matters worse for our countrymen. The new tax program would also include farmers and fisher-folk as well as lift the tax exemption of agricultural and marine products. This would definitely lead to ruin of many more farmers,”

“Besides the ones who should be taxed are the big corporations and not the already suffering farmers and workers. If they are to impose new taxes the tax scheme should also be progressive. The bulk of the tax collection should be shouldered by the ones who make tremendous profit like Danding Cojuangco, Lucio Tan and Henry Sy,” added Ramos.

The group also expressed doubts of  presidential spokesperson Ignacio Bunye’s statement that the every ounce of sacrifice by the citizens will be levied out of new tax measures will be matched with vigorous steps in revenue collections and cutting waste in government.

“How can this be, when big businessmen like Tan have yet still to be collected billions of taxes? Taxes that he evaded; that should have been for the benefit of the people. How can this be when the indemnification for the human rights victims of Marcos have yet to be given them and the government itself is trying to usurp it to the bogus land reform program,” added Ramos.

“If GMA is really serious in licking the financial crisis, she should repeal the law allotting more than 40% of our budget to foreign debt servicing and re-channel it to education and the livelihood of our people,” ended Ramos. # # #
 

KMP - 22 July 2004