Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 3) — Malacañang denies a “veto spree” after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. rejected five bills just a month after being in office.
“It’s not a spree. Tinotono lang naman ng ating pangulo don sa mga sistema yung mga batas natin lalong lalo na yung mga batas that involves some kind of tax break or tax benefits,” Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said in a Wednesday briefing.
[Translation: It’s not a spree. The president is just setting the tone of our laws to the system especially laws that involve some kind of tax break or tax benefits.]
She also noted that 41 bills lapsed into law since July 1, which do not include the five proposed measures Marcos rejected.
The latest one vetoed was the bill exempting from income tax the honoraria and allowances of persons who rendered services during the elections.
Angeles noted the decision of the chief executive was “a matter of good housekeeping.”
“Ang ating tax system di ba ni-reporma natin ito. Sa pagre-reporma, ginawa nating maayos, tinanggal natin yung mga benepisyo, mga exemptions at kung anu-ano pa na binibigay to various groups,” she explained.
[Translation: We reformed our tax system. In reforming, we arranged, removed benefits, exemptions, and others that were given to various groups.]
Due to so many exemptions and benefits, the country’s tax collection system has been disorganized, she said. It is also unclear if such tax breaks are just and are still benefiting the right groups, she added.
“Ang sinasabi ng ating pangulo, magbigay tayo ng form of ayuda sa ating mga poll workers (na) imbes na yung benepisyo ay gagawin natin sa pamamaraan ng pagtatanggal ng pagbubuwis,” Angeles noted.
[Translation: What the president is saying, let’s give a form of aid to poll workers instead of giving them the benefit through tax exemption.]
Through this way, tax collections will be organized, but government is still able to help poll workers, she said.
Other bills that Marcos earlier vetoed are the Bulacan Airport City Special Economic Zone, Office of the Government Corporate Counsel Charter, Davao Light and Power Company, Inc. Franchise; and the Philippine Transportation Safety Board Act.
