The largest and most militant peasant organization in the Philippines, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) urged solons from both houses of Congress to boycott the special session being called for by Malacanang on March 30 and April 1 to pass the value added tax (VAT) bill.

According to Ka Willy Marbella, spokesperson of the group, “the Congress and the Senate should show Malacanang that the VAT will only worsen the plight of our countrymen and it deserves to be junked outright. By boycotting the special session and consequently junking the VAT bill senators and congressmen would do a great service to the much burdened Juan pasan Cruz,”

“The Palace is once again engaged in its usual forked tongue approach in pushing for its measures. How on earth can the passing of the VAT bill, help the poor? When its passing alone would mean sky rocketing prices of basic necessities that the poor purchase, the VAT  will terribly reduce their purchasing power, thereby pushing them to greater poverty,” added the peasant leader.

As for his part Carl Anthony Ala, public information officer of KMP, “Presidential spokesperson Ignacio Bunye was also talking about  the Palace respecting legislative process by not begrudging solons for not passing the VAT bill on March 18, but the same Palace is calling for a special session to finish it. Is this respect? It is more of infringement on the powers of the legislative and plain intimidation, to get what Gloria wants,”

“The tendency of this regime for anti-people measures is really alarming. It not only prioritizes bills that economically suck the populace dry, it also wants to pass bills that would not allow resistance against it (eg. Anti-terrorism bill and National ID system),” ended Ala. # # #

KMP - 20 March 2005