Lacson’s wishful thinking: Tax all sins of congressmen, senators

Sen. Panfilo Lacson. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — As the Senate deliberates on the proposed sin tax bill, Senator Panfilo Lacson had this wishful thinking: To tax all the sins of congressmen and senators.

The bill, which seeks to impose additional tax on tobacco products, was recently certified as urgent by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Senate is expected to pass the measure before the 17th Congress adjourns sine die on June 7.

“Sin Tax: If only we can tax all the sins of congressmen and senators, we can collect more than enough to cover the entire national budget,” Lacson wrote in a Twitter post on Thursday.

While he welcomed the intent of the measure, which is to fund the universal healthcare program, Lacson lamented that imposing new tax seemed to have been the immediate solution whenever there is a need for funding.

“Di ba may Sin Tax kaming dine-deliberate? Sabi ko ok yan kasi health measure naman yan sa UHC (universal health care),” he said in an interview over dzBB.

“Baka pwede tingnan natin ang tax base ang leakages kasi (ang) leakages na nagmula sa corruption o incompetence o inefficiency (ang) mas malaki…” Lacson added.

The House of Representatives already approved its version of the measure.

Once passed and ratified by the Senate and the House, the bill will be sent to the President for signature. (Editor: Cenon B. Bibe Jr.)