Noynoy, Dont be a Grinch! Hands off the Sin Tax Bill!

PRESS RELEASE

13 December 2012

Gie Relova 

BMP-NCRR Secretary-General

0915-2792749

Militants' Christmas message to the President

Noynoy, Dont be a Grinch! Hands off the Sin Tax Bill!

MORE than three thousand protestors belonging to the anti-Sin Tax alliance, the Peoples Coalition Against Regressive Taxation spent the whole day at the Mendiola bridge urging President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino to veto the sin tax bill and prevent the catastrophic economic effects of his signing into law of the sin tax bill.

The militant group also criticized the recently approved provisions by the Bicameral Committee Meeting for its abandonment of the safety nets meant to cushion to the impacts of the sin tax bill which will critically affect the jobs and livelihoods of those relying on the sin products. 

In a statement, PCART insisted that the Aquino government is very much aware that a vicious institutional injustice is about to be committed against millions of Filipino workers, farmers, vendors and sari-sari store owners once the Sin Tax Bill is finally enacted but the President still pushed through with the IMF-dictated tax measure.

According to Gie Relova, Secretary-General of the militant Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino-National Capital Region-Rizal chapter, "Aquino did not only intentionally hand out the death warrants of our jobs and livelihoods, but also sent the dreams and ambitions of our children to the gallows. He had every reason to veto the sin tax bill and make Christmas celebration of our children turn from glum to merry but more importantly, he has to veto it before the economy turns from ugly to uglier".

“Totally unacceptable!” this was the reaction of Anthony Barnedo, National Capital Region-Rizal Secretary-General of the urban poor federation Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralita ng Lungsod (KPML-NCRR). 

“If the Sin Tax Bill is Aquino’s idea of a perfect Christmas, then his Daang Matuwid is a complete sham. If a regime that legalizes contractual labor, privatizes public hospitals, abandons the right the right to education, demolishes communities without a habitable relocation sites and now suppresses the way we make a living then logic dictates that the unbearable government such as Aquino’s is just as abusive and exploitative as its laws,” Barnedo added.

The coalition vowed to continue the struggle against an unjust and anti-poor decree such as Aquino’s regressive Sin Tax Law even during the electoral period wherein they are to launch a national negative campaign against those who supported the Malacanang-masterminded massacre of jobs and livelihoods.

"Beer is Thicker Than Water, While the Masses Suffer"

PRESS STATEMENT

11 December 2012

Gie Relova 

BMP-NCRR Secretary-General

0915-2792749

On the New Sin Tax Bicam Provisions

Militants Blame Aquino for Overkill and Accuse Him of Nepotism

SOME five thousand exasperated members of the anti-sin tax alliance Peoples Coalition Against Regressive Taxation or PCART assembled at Morayta and marched to the historic Mendiola Bridge brundishing a giant tarpaulin streamer bearing a "Beer is Thicker Than Water, While the Masses Suffer" slogan. The message was meant to expose President Benigno Aquino's partiality for his relatives' businesses at the expense of the masses in the sin tax debates. 

The militants took a swipe at the latest provisions agreed upon by the bicameral committee conference yesterday and blamed the maneuvers on Aquino for the latest alterations in the pending tax measure.

The militants howled in disbelief after learning that bicameral committee removed the provisions that were previously earmarked to the amount of one billion pesos as an unemployment insurance and a re-tooling livelihood program for displaced cigarette workers. The bicameral committee also removed the provision for earmarked for the benefit of the tobacco farmers.

According to Gie Relova, Secretary-General of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino-National Capital Region-Rizal chapter (BMP-NCRR), "The latest maneuvers by Malacanang is undoubtedly the most voracious and greediest act he has done since he came to power. Because of such manipulations, the workers and farmers have not only lost their jobs but end up empty-handed after Aquino shamelessly took every centavo meant to cushion the impacts of the recalibrated excise tax".

"It seemed unthinkable since the fall of the Marcos dictatorship that a single yet omnipotent government official could blatantly ram through all his avaricious impulses on the masses. With P-Noy at the helm of power and placing his weight on the legislative branch, he has vanquished every hope and sympathy our poor countrymen have for his leadership and his ridiculous Daang matuwid polemic. He has now leveled up to the ranks of Ferdinand Marcos, Norberto Manero, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other vile public figures in the history of our country" Relova added.

PCART also took notice and insisted that the agreed provisions were clearly favorable to the business interests of Danding Cojuangco, Aquino's favorite uncle. The militants classified the latest maneuvers of the Palace to enact a well-crafted Sin Tax Law according to their preferred mould as a scheme to legitimize corruption and nepotism.

The anti-sin tax alliance has consistently denounced the mafia-like operations of the government and the private corporations in the crafting of laws to conspire against the poor to squeeze from them the taxes the government drools for and the profits the corporations are dying to increase. 

"For as long as a regressive taxation is in place and a morally bankrupt and exploitative system is in the place, the workers and its allies shall rise against them" the BMP leader concluded.

Sinisi ng mga Militante si Aquino at Inakusahan ito ng Nepotismo

PRESS STATEMENT

11 Disyembre 2012

Gie Relova 

BMP-NCRR Secretary-General

0915-2792749

Hinggil sa mga Bagong Probisyon sa Sin Tax ng Bicam

Sinisi ng mga Militante si Aquino at Inakusahan ito ng Nepotismo

TINATAYANG nasa limang libong miyembro ng alyansang kontra sin tax na Peoples Coalition Against Regressive Taxation (PCART) ang nagtipon sa Morayta at nagmartsa sa makasaysayang Mendiola Bridge dala ang higanteng tarpaulin streamer na may nakasulat na "Beer is Thicker Than Water, While the Masses Suffer". Layon ng streamer na isiwalat na maka-isang panig si Pangulong Benigno Aquino III sa mga negosyo ng kanyang mga kamag-anak sa kabila ng dagdag kahirapan na papasanin ng masa dahil sa panukalang sin tax.

Pinuna ng mga militante ang mga probisyong napagkaisahan sa bicameral committee conference kahapon at isinisi ang naganap na maniobrahan sa pinakuhuling mga pagbabago sa panukalang batas kay Aquino.

Hindi makapaniwala ang mga manggagawa nang mabalitaan nilang inalis ng bicameral committee ang mga probisyong dati nang itinakda na nagkakahalaga sa isang bilyong piso bilang unemployment insurance at para sa pangkabuhayang pagsasanay ng mga manggagawang matatanggal sa trabaho. Inalis din ng bicameral committee ang probisyong nakatakda naman para sa benepisyo ng mga magbubukid ng tabako.

Ayon kay Gie Relova, Secretary-General ng Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino-National Capital Region-Rizal chapter (BMP-NCRR), "Ang pinakahuling pagmamaniobra ng Malacanang ay hindi maitatangging pinakasamasaklap at pinakasakim na ginawa nito mula nang mapuwesto ito sa kapangyarihan. Dahil sa mga manipulasyon ito, ang mga manggagawa't magsasaka ay hindi lamang nawalan ng trabaho kundi inalisan pa ng suporta matapos kamkamin ang lahat ng pondong itinakda para maibasan ang epekto sa kanila ng karagdagang buwis". 

"Parang ang hirap isipin na matapos bumagsak ng diktaduryang Marcos, may isa nanamang lubos na makapangyarihang opisyal na kapal-mukhang sinagasaan ang interes ng masa para sa kanyang pansariling pakinabang. At dahil sa nasa kapangyarihan si Aquino at nagawa niyang impluwensiyahan ang lehislatura, siya mismo ang bumisto sa kanyang sarili at sa pagka-bangkarote ng kanyang polemikang Daang Matuwid sa masa. Dahil dito, nabibilang na siya sa mga kagaya ni Ferdinand Marcos, Norberto Manero, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at iba pang kahiya-hiyang personahe sa kasaysayan ng bansa," dagdag pa ni Relova.

Iginiit pa ng PCART na ang nasabing probisyon ay malinaw na pumapabor sa interes ng negosyo ni Danding Cojuangco, ang paboritong tiyuhin ng Noynoy. Tinaguring isang iskema ng pagliligalisa ng korapsyon at nepotismo ang mga maniobra ng Palasyo na disenyuhan ang isang batas sa Sin Tax ayon sa kanilang napiling molde. 

Walang tigil na kinundena ng alyansa ang mala-sindikatong gawi ng gubyerno at mga pribadong korporasyon sa paglilikha ng batas para gipitin ang mga mahihirap para sa kanilang interes, buwis sa gubyerno at labis-labis na tubo para sa mga korporasyon.

"Hanggat nanatiling regresibo ang sistema ng pagbubuwis, korap at mapagsamantala ang sistemang pampulitika sa bansa, ang mga manggagawa't kanilang mga alyado ay siguradong magaalsa laban sa kanila" pagtatapos ng lider ng BMP. 

Miltants Slam the Bicam

PRESS STATEMENT

December 10, 2012

Gie Relova 

BMP-NCRR Secretary-General

0915-2792749

For Agreeing to a P35 Billion Revenue Target for 2013:

MILITANTS SLAM THE BICAM!

Five thousand workers, vendors, and informal settlers assembled at the grounds of Hotel Sofitel Grand at the CCP Complex carrying placards painted with "Tama na, Sobra na! Sistema ng Pagbubuwis, Palitan na!", P-Noy at Sin Tax, Pahirap sa Masa" and "Tax Revolt, Sagot sa Regressive Taxation!" slogans. The militants condemned the sin tax bicameral conference that agreed on the P35 billion target tax revenue of government for the year 2013 last Friday.

Gie Relova, Secretary-General of the militant Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino - National Capital Region-Rizal (BMP-NCRR), says "We condemn the bicameral conference committee to the highest degree. Passing the sin tax bill has been the solons’ most appalling act of disservice and treachery to the Filipino people. The 1987 Constitution specifically instructs the legislators to develop a progressive system of taxation; instead, these lawmakers prefer to exacerbate the already miserable lives of our countrymen with regressive taxes".

In spite of the militants disgust for the bicameral committee Relova was quick to add that, "the millions of workers and farmers nationwide reserve the strongest denunciation for President Noynoy Aquino for his puppetry to the prodding of international financing institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and a transnational corporation. The imperialist forces shall profit in trillions of pesos at the expense of our local industry without generating any employment”. 

The corporation the labor leader was referring to is the London-based multinational company British-American Tobacco (BAT) which re-entered the Philippine market after pulling out in 2009. The return of the BAT which produces the Lucky Strike brand will only dump surplus tobacco leaves in the country and will clearly benefit from a sin tax law designed to break the stranglehold on the market of a local company thereby increasing BAT's market share in the Philippines .

For Anthony Barnedo, Secretary-General of Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralita ng Lungsod - National Capital Region-Rizal (KPML-NCRR), a co-convener of the alliance Peoples Coalition Against Regressive Taxation (PCART), "the government claims to raise revenue from excise taxes but surely, they shall never be able to obtain their targets because of the high prices, no one will be able to afford sin products anymore, the industry is bound for doom". 

"Nor do we expect an enhanced public health program from the government even if they achieve their revenue targets. The Universal Healthcare Program of the regime shall remain a dream, ending in a nightmare once they commence privatizing the twenty-six public hospitals" the urban poor leader added.

"As we commemorate the 64th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), our "honorable" senators and congressmen chose to observe this day with intentional and brutal violations to our right to work and protection against unemployment. With the imminent massacre of jobs and livelihoods, the system of taxation being laid down by the Aquino regime is clearly courting a social revolution they shall soon regret.” the BMP leader concluded.

Bicam, Kinundena ng mga Militante

PRESS STATEMENT

Disyembre 10, 2012

Gie Relova 

BMP-NCRR Secretary-General

0915-2792749

Sa Pagsang-Ayon sa P35 Bilyong Target na Sin Tax sa Taong 2013

BICAM KINUNDENA NG MGA MILITANTE!

LIMANG libong manggagawa, manininda at maralitang taga-lungsod ang nagtipon sa labas ng Hotel Sofitel Grand sa CCP Complex dala ang mga placards na may nakapintang, "Tama na, Sobra na! Sistema ng Pagbubuwis, Palitan na!", "P-Noy at Sin Tax, Pahirap sa Masa" at "Tax Revolt, Sagot sa Regressive Taxation!" Bilang pagkondena sa naganap na sin tax bicameral conference na sumang-ayon sa P35 bilyong target na kita sa sin tax ng gobyerno para sa taong 2013. 

Ayon kay Gie Relova, Secretary-General ng Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino - National Capital Region-Rizal (BMP-NCRR), "Abot-langit naming kinukondena ang naging pasya ng bicameral conference committee. Sobrang nasusuklam ang mamamayang Pilipino sa katrayduran ng pagkakapasa ng sin tax bill. Taliwas ito sa 1987 Constitution na kung saan sinasaad nito na dapat ay paunlarin ang sistema sa pagbubuwis sa isang progresibong pamamaraan ngunit mas pinaboran ng mga mambabatas ang regresibong sistema na lalong magpapahirap sa mga miserable na ngang buhay ng taumbayan."

Bagamat matindi ang disgusto ng mga miltante sa Bicam, mabilis na dinagdag ni Relova na, "milyong manggagawa at magsasaka sa buong bansa ang kumukondena kay Pangulong Benigno Aquino III dahil sa pagpayag nitong maging sunud-sunuran sa mga utos ng mga pandaigdigang institusyong pampinansiya gaya ng International Monetary Fund at isang dambuhalang dayuhang korporasyon. Tutubo ng trilyong piso ang mga dayuhan nang walang lilikhaing hanap-buhay habang iniaalay sa altar ang ating lokal na industriya". 

Ang tinutukoy ni Relova ay dambuhalang kumpanyang naka-base sa London na British-American Tobacco (BAT) na muling pumasok sa Pilipinas makaraang umalis noong 2009. Ang pagbabalik ng BAT na gumagawa ng sigarilyong Lucky Strike ay magtatambak lamang ng sobra-sobrang tabako nito sa bansa. Ang kumpanyang BAT ang malinaw na makikinabang sa isang batas sa sin tax na siyang paraan naman nito para basagin ang monopolyo sa mekado ng isang lokal na kumpanya na mangangahulugan naman ng paglaki ng market share nito. 

Samantala, ayon naman kay Anthony Barnedo, Secretary-General ng Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralita ng Lungsod - National Capital Region-Rizal (KPML-NCRR), isa sa nagtatag ng Peoples Coalition Against Regressive Taxation (PCART), "umaasa ang gobyerno na kikita sila sa pamamagitan ng sin tax pero sigurado, hinding-hindi hindi ito magaganap dahil sa taas ng presyo ng mga produktong tabako't alkohol, wala nang makakabili nito, tiyak na malulusaw ang industriya". 

"Hindi na rin natin dapat asahan na mapapaunlad nga ng gobyerno ang mga programang pangkalusugan sa bansa kahit pa sabihin nating maabot nito ang target na kita mula sa sin tax. Ang pinangangalandakan nilang Universal Healthcare Program ay mananatili na lang panaginip na mauuwi sa bangungot kapag sinimulan na nila ang pagsasapribado sa dalawampu't anim na pampublikong ospital," dagdag pa nito.

"Habang ipinagbubunyi natin ang ika-64 anibersaryo ng Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), mas pinili ng ating mga "kagalang-galang" na senador at kongresista ang labagin ang ating mga karapatan sa paggawa at proteksyon sa kawalan ng hanap-buhay. At dahil sa nakaambang masaker sa mga trabaho't kabuhayan at sa sistema ng pagbubuwis na inilalatag sa rehimeng Aquino, liniligawan nito ang isang panlipunang rebolusyon na tiyak nilang pagsisisihan," dagdag pa ng BMP lider.

BMP-NCRR rally at Shangri-La Hotel, re: anti-Sin Tax

BUKLURAN NG MANGGAGAWANG PILIPINO

National Capital Region-Rizal (BMP-NCRR)

PRESS RELEASE

5 December 2012

Militants Warns the Public of the Imminent Horse-Trading 

by Lawmakers in the Bicam Conference

Militant labor group expressed its grave distrust at the bicameral conference committee because of the composition of the delegates from both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The group denounce the whole process and claimes that the bicameral conference shall only serve as a abysmal stamp pad of the Malacanang masterminded, Department of Finance designed tax measure.

According to Gie Relova, Secretary-General of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino-National Capital Region and Rizal Chapter, "The lawmakers sent by their respective chambers are not looking to fulfill their mandates to the Filipino nation but only seek opportunities to fatten their bank accounts from the lobby groups of tobacco and alcohol corporations".

"Everyone knows that the major contention in the bicameral conference is the percentage of how much of the tax revenues shall be sourced from, either the tobacco or alcohol industries. Surely, the lawmakers expect that lobby money from major industry players shall flow from all directions and fraudulent tactics shall be employed" Relova said. 

Relova was also quick to add that "this monumental battle royal between corporate heavyweights such as Lucio Tan, Danding Cojuangco and new player, the British American Tobacco will be an exercise to secure their trillions of pesos in profits after the government has already secured its own interests at the expense of the country's marginalized sectors" 

The BMP believes that bicameral committee conference is just a lame ceremony to fulfill the legal requirements and the sin tax measure is already done deal, as far as the government is concerned. The militant labor group also denounced the politicians for their misplaced loyalty to the resident of Malacanang Palace in order to gain favors in the coming 2013 National Elections.

"The workers and our marginalized countrymen have everything to worry about. The credibility and track record of these lawmakers has been punctuated with their support for many anti-poor legislative measures. Just recently, their votes on the sin tax bill in their respective chambers is evident enough to earn our distrust in them and the whole process" the BMP leader concluded.

The militants vowed to make the lawmakers pay heavily in the coming elections by waging a nationwide negative campaign against those who supported the sin tax bill. 

Rali ng BMP-NCRR sa Shangri-La Hotel, re: anti-Sin Tax

BUKLURAN NG MANGGAGAWANG PILIPINO

National Capital Region-Rizal (BMP-NCRR)

PRESS RELEASE

5 Disyembre 2012

Binalaan ng mga Militante ang Publiko Hinggil sa Nakaambang Horse-Trading ng mga Mambabatas sa Bicam

Ipinahayag ng isang militanteng grupo ng manggagawa ang kanilang matinding pagkadismaya sa bicameral committee conference dahil ang komposisyon ng mga delegado ay nanggagaling sa Senado at Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso. Kinondena ng grupo ang buong proseso at sinabing ang bicameral conference ay magsisilbing stamp pad lamang ng Malacanang at dinisenyo ng Departamento ng Pinansya.

Ayon kay Gie Relova, pangkalahatang kalihim ng Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino – National Capital Region-Rizal (BMP-NCRR) chapter, “Ang mga mambabatas na itinalaga ng kani-kanilang kapulungan ay hindi nagtatangkang tuparin ang kanilang mandato sa mamamayan ng Pilipinas kundi naghahanap lamang ng oportunidad na patabain ang kanilang mga bulsa mula sa mga kampanyador ng mga korporasyon ng tabako at alak.”

“Alam ng lahat na ang mayor na kontensyon sa bicameral conference ay ang porsyento kung gaano kalaki ang kita sa buwis na manggagaling sa industriya ng tabako o alak. Tiyak, inaasahan ng mga mambabatas na babaha ng pera sa lahat ng direksyon mula sa mga mayor na mga manlalaro sa industriya” dagdag pa ni Relova.

Agad ding idinagdag ni Relova na ”ang matinding labanang ito sa pagitan ng mga bigatin sa korporasyon na tulad ni Lucio Tan, Danding Cojuangco at ang bagong manlalaro, ang British American Tobacco, ay isang gawaing magtitiyak ng trilyun-trilyong pisong tubo matapos tiyakin ng gobyerno ang sarili nitong interes na lalong kumawawa sa mga lugmok na sa hirap na mamamayan.”

Naniniwala ang BMP-NCRR na isang pilantod na seremonya lamang ang bicameral committee conference upang tuparin ang mga legal na rekisitos at ang patakarang sin tax ay kasunduang gawa na. Kinondena rin ng militanteng grupo ng manggagawa ang mga pulitiko dahil sa kanilang katapatan sa resident eng Malacanang upang magkaroon ng pabor sa parating na Pambansang Halalan ng 2013.

“Ang mga manggagawa at ang ating mga naghihirap na kababayan ay talagang nag-aalala. Ang kredibilidad at track record ng mga mambabatas na ito ang nagtuldok sa kanilang suporta sa anti-maralitang panukalang batas na ito. Ang kanilang boto sa panukalang sin tax sa kani-kanilang kapulungan ay sapat na patunay na di na sila dapat pagkatiwalaan at ang buong proseso” pagtatapos ng lider ng BMP-NCRR.

Nangako ang mga militante na magbabayad ng mabigat ang mga mambabatas na ito sa darating na halalan sa pamamagitan ng pambansang negatibong kampanya laban sa mga sumuporta sa panukalang sin tax.