Francis Escudero twits Mar Roxas for opposing lower taxes

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero (left) is criticizing former-Interior Secretary Mar Roxas for opposing lower taxes saying the stance was against the position of President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER FILE

Senator Francis Escudero hit former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas’ statement against the proposed lowering of income tax rates, saying he was surprised that the latter was taking a “completely opposite” position to that of President Benigno Aquino III.

Escudero was referring to Roxas’ reported statement that proponents of lower income tax rates should identify programs that would have to be eliminated to justify the passage of tax reform measures.

“If he truly cares about the three to four million middle-income workers who stand to benefit from lowering income taxes, and empathizes with the struggles they face every day, then he should find a way to make it work,” the senator said in a statement on Thursday.

“It’s a surprise that his stance on the issue is completely opposite to that of President Aquino, who has expressed willingness to hear the side of congressional leaders,” he said.

READ: Escudero urges Aquino to back bill lowering income tax rates

Contrary to Roxas’ statement, Escudero said, no government projects should be cut nor any citizen of the country should be deprived of services in order to bring down income tax rates.

“Kung gusto, maraming paraan; kung ayaw, maraming dahilan (If we want to, there are many ways; if we don’t, there are many excuses),” he said.

The senator then reiterated his earlier statement when he declared his vice presidential bid that the country needs a “government with a heart — one that would find ways to lower the prices of electricity, and goods, as well as lower the taxes we pay.”

Escudero sponsored a measure that exempts minimum wage earners in the private and public sectors from income tax, which later became Republic Act No. 9504. The law covers not only the basic pay, but also holiday pay, overtime pay, night shift differential and hazard pay received by minimum wage earners.

Reducing income taxes to give relief to taxpayers, was one of the proposals presented by Senator Grace Poe when she declared her intention to run for president, Escudero said.

Even the Palace’s own allies in the Senate and the House of Representatives, he said, have carefully studied the bills now being discussed, and have proposed various means by which government can compensate for the estimated P30 billion in revenues the government expects to lose annually.

“We don’t have to raise the VAT as earlier measures like the sin tax have already increased government revenue. Lowering the income tax broadens the tax base, increases the purchasing power of our people and it increases consumption, thereby spurring production and producing more jobs. We need to lower income taxes and we need to do it now,” Escudero added.