Militant groups push anti-EVAT campaign

They are "taking it to the grave."

Militant groups yesterday announced they would bring their campaign against the implementation of the expanded value added tax to the cemeteries during the observance of the All Saints and All Souls Days.

They also vowed to hold nationwide protests and transport strikes that would pressure Malacañang to suspend implementation of Republic Act 9337, or the EVAT law.

This anti-EVAT drive is meant to achieve a similar outcome as on July 1 when the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order forcing the government to stall the new tax law's implementation.

Since last Saturday, members of the Labor Power Council distributed anti-EVAT leaflets and information materials in downtown Colon, malls, transportation terminals and places frequented by people.

LPC's Dennis Derige said they had gathered 30,000 signatories from the anti-EVAT signature campaign they held since last month. And this drive would continue at the cemeteries where they would put up signing centers to gain additional support from people opposed to the law.

In Cebu, the group's target is to get at least 100,000 signatures, after which these signed documents would be attached to the proposal they would submit in Congress asking to repeal the law. Then a proposal will be sent through the Partido ng Manggagawa party-list representatives, said Derige.

Derige said an anti-EVAT rally would be held in Colon this Wednesday, and they are preparing for the "welgang bayan" on November 10 when 20 big transport groups in the country have vowed to participate.

Bayan Muna provincial chairman Jaime Paglinawan, for his part, said President Gloria Arroyo's insistence of the EVAT is like sowing terror and horror for the Halloween days.

Both Derige and Paglinawan said that once the people feel the impact of the EVAT on their finances, it is expected that more people will join their protest actions against this controversial law.

"It is a big lie for the government to say EVAT would have a little impact on the people because the increase in oil prices would definitely have spiraling results, especially on the prices of basic commodities," Paglinawan said. - Wenna A. Berondo