MANILA, Philippines - The Nacionalista Party of Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. has joined Malacañang in criticizing Sen. Benigno Aquino III for his promise not to allow new taxes if he is elected president.
NP stalwart and Iloilo Vice Gov. Rolex Suplico, who is planning to return to Congress as the representative of the province’s fifth district, said in a statement that Aquino’s promise – made before members of the Makati Business Club earlier this week – only showed his inexperience.
“It is an irresponsible statement from someone who does not know what he is getting into. He is simply catering to the gallery,” Suplico said.
Suplico described Aquino’s pronouncement as “one of the most destructive words in the history of presidential politics.”
“A president needs funds to run the government. He can either raise taxes or rely on borrowings,” he added.
“Where will Aquino get the resources to address the financial crisis? The country needs additional revenue to keep it going,” Suplico said.
“Noynoy has no originality. He copied the infamous electoral promise to project himself as an advocate of no new taxes unaware of the dire consequences of forgoing income opportunities that will benefit the people,” he added.
Suplico said Aquino might suffer the fate of former United States President George H. W. Bush who suffered re-election defeat after failing to make good his promise not to initiate new taxes in his campaign in 1988.
Citing a recent statement by Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, Suplico said the budget deficit in 2010 may hit as high as P300 billion.
He said taxes, though undesirable, are necessary to raise the needed revenues to address the growing deficit.
Meanwhile, Villar gave away P3 million for scholarships for 40 children at ABS-CBN’s noontime show “Wowowee” on the occasion of host Willie Revillame’s birthday.
The recipients of the scholarships were children of scavengers and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who encountered misfortunes abroad.
Earlier, Villar distributed houses and lots to six OFWs in response to Revillame’s request in the noontime show.