The government’s campaign against corruption should uphold not just the call of the business sector but also the welfare of ordinary Filipino taxpayers who cannot escape paying taxes, including the 12% value-added tax, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Monday.
Lacson stressed this after 34 business groups and associations signed a resolution calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to take “swift, decisive action” against corruption, which they described as more than a financial loss but a “fatal breach of public trust.”
“I couldn’t agree more with the business sector except that they should not only be speaking on their behalf but for the tens of millions of individual taxpayers including every Filipino that cannot escape the 12% VAT or consumer tax that we all pay in exchange for goods and services that we deal with on a daily basis,” said Lacson, an avowed enemy of corruption.
In Filipino: Lacson: Laban vs Katiwalian Dapat Para sa Lahat ng Pilipino, Hindi Lang sa Negosyante
The business groups, in calling for government action against corruption, had suggested that the government empower the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) with full legal authority and independence, free from political influence; prosecute all those responsible regardless of rank, position or political affiliation; implement institutional reforms; ensure restitution of ill-gotten wealth and embezzled funds; and strengthen procurement and oversight systems.
Also, Lacson emphasized that there should be no letup in public anger and vigilance against corruption lest those responsible become emboldened again just because Filipinos lowered their guard.
Lacson had detailed via two privilege speeches the extent of corruption involving flood control projects and how some of those involved gambled away public funds in casinos.
“In the midst of all the acts of corruption being exposed on a regular basis that seem to cut across almost all implementing agencies entrusted with public funds, we should sustain the momentum of guarding against any and all shenanigans by monitoring and reporting the same, if not to the concerned authorities, directly to the Filipino people so those responsible may be shamed, prosecuted and put behind bars,” he said.
“Lowering our guard, and worse, forgetting after reaching this far in terms of awareness and inciting public anger is no longer an option,” he added.
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Lacson: Laban vs Katiwalian Dapat Para sa Lahat ng Pilipino, Hindi Lang sa Negosyante
Dapat tiyakin ng pamahalaan na ang kampanya laban sa katiwalian ay hindi lamang tumutugon sa panawagan ng mga negosyante kundi sa kapakanan ng pangkaraniwang Pilipino na walang takas sa pagbabayad ng buwis — kabilang na ang 12% value-added tax (VAT), ayon kay Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Lunes.
Binigyang-diin ito ni Lacson matapos lagdaan ng 34 na grupo ng mga negosyante ang isang resolusyon na nananawagan kay Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na agad kumilos laban sa katiwalian — isang suliraning inilarawan nila bilang hindi lamang pagkalugi sa pananalapi kundi isang malubhang paglabag sa tiwala ng publiko.
“I couldn’t agree more with the business sector except that they should not only be speaking on their behalf but for the tens of millions of individual taxpayers including every Filipino that cannot escape the 12% VAT or consumer tax that we all pay in exchange for goods and services that we deal with on a daily basis,” ayon kay Lacson, na matagal nang kilalang mahigpit na kalaban ng katiwalian.
Kabilang sa mga suhestiyon ng mga grupo sa pamahalaan ang pagbibigay ng ganap na awtoridad at kalayaan sa Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) mula sa impluwensiyang pampulitika; pagpaparusa sa lahat ng responsable anuman ang katungkulan o ugnayang pampulitika; pagpapatupad ng mga repormang institusyonal; pagbabalik ng mga nakaw na yaman at pondong ibinulsa; at pagpapatibay ng mga sistema sa procurement at oversight.
Idiniin din ni Lacson na hindi dapat humupa ang galit at pagbabantay ng publiko laban sa katiwalian, dahil maaaring muling lumakas ang loob ng mga tiwaling opisyal kapag nakita nilang bumaba ang antas ng pag-iingat ng mga Pilipino.
Nauna nang inilahad ni Lacson sa dalawang privilege speech ang lawak ng katiwalian sa mga proyektong pang-flood control, kabilang ang pagsusugal sa casino ng ilan sa mga sangkot, gamit ang pondo ng bayan.
“In the midst of all the acts of corruption being exposed on a regular basis that seem to cut across almost all implementing agencies entrusted with public funds, we should sustain the momentum of guarding against any and all shenanigans by monitoring and reporting the same, if not to the concerned authorities, directly to the Filipino people so those responsible may be shamed, prosecuted and put behind bars,” ani Lacson.
“Lowering our guard, and worse, forgetting after reaching this far in terms of awareness and inciting public anger is no longer an option,” dagdag niya.
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