Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 29) — Labor leader and presidential candidate Leody de Guzman slammed his rival Bongbong Marcos for “politicizing” his proposed tax amnesty for pandemic-stricken small businesses.
De Guzman claimed the former senator is “courting” micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) using his proposal to give them tax breaks in response to the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns.
Marcos earlier said the government should provide tax amnesty and tax holiday for small enterprises as they have been suffering losses due to strict coronavirus restrictions.
De Guzman said if the son of the late dictator sincerely wanted to help ease MSMEs’ burdens, he could have asked his sister Senator Imee Marcos to float the proposal.
“At bakit ngayon lang? Dahil ang kanyang sinabi ay pawang pamumulitika lamang,” he said.
[Translation: And why just now? Because he’s just politicking.]
De Guzman also expressed disapproval of Marcos’ proposal, arguing that imposing tax amnesty or tax holiday for MSMEs would result in reduced collection for the government, which could force it to borrow more funds to finance the country’s ongoing fight against the pandemic.
The labor leader then reiterated his push to impose wealth tax on billionaires, and demand tax evaders to settle their debts.
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Aksyon Demokratiko, the party of presidential bet Isko Moreno, earlier said the Marcos family’s unpaid estate tax already ballooned to ₱203 billion.
“Wag na nilang hintayin ang estate tax amnesty deadline na June 2023. Sobrang pabor sa mga angkan ng mayayaman ang sistema sa pagbubuwis,” De Guzman said.
[Translation: They should not wait for the estate tax amnesty deadline of June 2023. The taxation system is very favorable to rich clans.]
