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Palace: Let’s raise debate level on sin tax

Ayee Macaraig

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Malacañang denies resorting to name-calling in the heated debate on the sin tax bill

NO INSULTS. Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the executive branch did not resort to name-calling on the controversial sin tax bill. Screengrab from RTVM

MANILA, Philippines – Ralph Morris bill? Purisima-San Miguel alliance? Malacañang says stop.

Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda called on stakeholders of the so-called sin tax bill to elevate the level of debate.

In a press conference on Thursday, October 18, Lacierda said contrary to criticism, the Palace did not engage in name-calling amid heated debates over the measure in the past week.

“We’ve tried to raise the level of public discourse in sin tax purely on its merits and not on descending into name-calling. We have not done it. We did not do it. So maybe some advocates were the ones who did it but certainly not the government officials,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda was responding to statements of Sen Ralph Recto, who resigned as chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Monday, October 15. Recto lamented the name-calling and criticism he received after sponsoring a supposed watered down committee report on the measure.

The Palace spokesperson said it was not members of the executive branch who tagged the committee report as a “Ralph Morris bill.” The Recto bill was similar to the version proposed by tobacco company Philip Morris.

“Let me be clear. [Finance] Secretary [Cesar] Purisima never resorted or [Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner] Kim Henares never resorted to name-calling so the name-calling did not start from government officials,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda added, “So we have averted or we have tried to prevent [it].”

Rappler earlier reported that it was civil society groups that coined the term “Ralph Morris bill.” Recto lashed back by coming up with the phrase “Purisima-San Miguel” as he accused the Finance chief of compromising with San Miguel in the House of Representatives version of the bill.

Recto’s committee report raised government revenues from tobacco and alcohol products by an additional P15 billion to P20 billion. This is way lower than the Finance Department’s target of P60 billion and the P30 billion in the House version. 

Purisima has said he is amenable to lower the target to P40 billion.

Lacierda pointed out that Purisima already apologized to Recto after he, Henares and Health Secretary Enrique Ona criticized the committee report. The three officials met with senators on Wednesday, October 17. 

The spokesperson read a text message from Purisima, “I, as lead Cabinet for this issue, apologized to Sen Recto for the misquotes and other statements that may be misinterpreted as unproductive.”

Compromise proposals on table

Sen Gregorio Honasan II said the Senate has not yet reached a decision on whether or not to still use Recto’s committee report. Recto already withdrew his report upon his resignation and said his colleagues should come up with their own version.

During the Kapihan sa Senado press forum, Honasan said the decision will be announced by Drilon, who has been named acting chairman. Drilon is a staunch ally of the President and had said he wanted to propose amendments to the Recto bill. 

Kung mag-act si Sen Drilon na ang gamiting basehan sa debate is ‘yung committee report ni Sen Recto, paano naman niya i-interpellate ‘yung sarili niyang report,” Honasan said. (If Sen Drilon uses the committee report of Sen Recto in the debate, how can he interpellate his own report?)

Honasan, a member of the Ways and Means committee, added, “It’s Sen Frank’s decision. There are compromise proposals but nothing was decided on.”

Congress is now on break and session will resume on November 5.

Lacierda echoed the optimism of President Benigno Aquino III that the tiff in the Senate will not delay the passage of the bill beyond the 2013 polls.

“It’s not too late,” Lacierda said. “There’s still no setback as far as we are concerned.”

‘We aired grievances’

Honasan revealed that in the Wednesday caucus, senators were able to air their grievances over the measure.

Nagkahingahan ng hindi naman sama ng loob, nagkalinawan,” Honasan said. “Sabi ng magkabilang panig, ito daw ‘yung sinabi ko according to media pero ang ibig kong sabihin talaga ay ito. Ganoon.” (We were able to air grievances and clarify issues. Both sides said I said this according to media but what I actually meant was this. It went like that.)

Honasan said the lesson learned from the experience is for the executive and legislative branches to respect each other and to settle conflicts privately.

“It is not about the solution anymore. It is about mutual respect …. If you have a suggestion, tell us but don’t preempt us,” Honasan said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The senator added, “As much as possible, cool heads must prevail because don’t minds close when people insult each other publicly? That’s why there is a caucus so there are no cameras. We won’t embarrass each other. Express what’s on your mind.”

“Don’t worry, you won’t be on the 6 o’clock news.” – Rappler.com


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