ROXAS TO GMA: NO NEW TAXES UNTIL YOU PUT LID ON CORRUPTION
SAYS PUBLIC STILL REELING FROM LOCAL ECONOMY SLUMP

President Arroyo must first stop graft and corruption in her administration before any new taxes is approved by Congress, Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas said today.

"Pagod na ang taumbayan sa garapalang pagnanakaw na ginagawa ng administrasyong ito," he said.

"Kailangang patunayan ni GMA na hindi lamang nanakawin at ibubulsa ng kanyang mga alipores ang perang kukunin nila sa taumbayan. Linisin muna niya ang kanyang administrasyon bago siya maningil ng anumang dagdag na buwis sa mamamayan," he added.

He noted the public would not be keen on paying more taxes to the government that would only reduce their monthly income, especially at this time of extreme economic crisis complicated by the global financial meltdown, which he noted the Arroyo administration did not prepare for.

"Hirap na nga ang mga kababayan natin na pagkasyahin ang kita nila sa pang-araw-araw nilang buhay, kakaltasan pa ang kita na ito. Hindi katanggap-tanggap ito. Alam ng taumbayan kung saan ngayon napupunta ang pera nila -- sa bulsa ng iba ," he said.

The Visayan senator said President Arroyo should instead concentrate on stomping out graft and corruption in her government, both in the income and expense side. He said the insufficiency of funds collected and leakages in spending this should be blamed on the rampant robbery of the national coffers by Malacanang's allies.

Economic managers have projected this year's budget deficit at P250 billion by year-end, saying revenue collection agencies have failed to meet their targets due to short-falls in the value-added tax collections.

President Arroyo had urged her House allies to fast-track the approval of new tax bills to address the shortfalls. Among the revenue measures that need to be approved are the proposed rationalization of excise taxes on cigarettes and alcohol products that can generate anywhere from P19 billion to P21 billion annually; the Simplified Net Income Taxation System, P5 billion; and the rationalization of fiscal incentives which could raise anywhere from P5 billion to P10 billion.

Roxas has vowed to block the approval of new taxes for the Arroyo administration, citing its inefficient tax collection system and the graft and corruption that taint its transactions.