MANILA, Philippines - An Aquino-Roxas administration will chase big tax cheaters and smugglers to raise the government's coffers, instead of imposing new taxes, leading vice-presidential candiate Mar Roxas said.
Roxas, who emerged in the latest Social Weather Station survey as the frontrunner in the vice-presidential race, also vowed to resist pressures to increase the current 3% value added tax, saying a VAT hike will be unbearable for most people.
The Aquino-led government, he said, will prioritize the prosecution of tax evaders, especially big companies, and apprehend erring and corrupt government tax officials nationwide. He said the government's main tax collection agencies, the Bureau of Customs and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, will be closely watched to ensure they improve tax collection efforts.
“Kung titigil ang pangungurakot ng mga tiwaling opisyal at tuwid at tapat ang pangongolekta at paggamit ng buwis, hindi na kailangang magdagdag pa ng pabigat na bayarin sa karaniwang Pilipino,” Roxas said. ("If officials stop their corrupt practices and taxes are properly used, there is no need to raise taxes that are burdensome for ordinary Filipinos.")
Roxas said part of the Aquino government's tax collection program would be to earnestly go after those involved in tax evasion and smuggling.
“Sa ilalim ng administrasyong Aquino at Roxas gagawin namin ang aming makakaya upang resolbahin ang tunay na dahilan, at ‘yan ay ang mga corrupt sa BIR at sa Customs at ang mga nagnanakaw ng budget para sa mga proyekto ng gobyerno, pati na ang mga intelligence funds." ("Under the Aquino-Roxas administration, we will do what we can to resolve the real reason (for low tax collection), and that is - corrupt BIR and Customs people, those that steal budgets intended for goverment programs, including intelligence funds.")
Roxas said he is confident that if tax collection is increased to 15% from the current 12.8%, the government will be able to raise additional revenues of not less than P160 billion. He said this will help to significantly reduce the government's budget shortfall.
An estimated P280 billion in revenue was lost in 2009 due to the failure by authorities to curb illegal practices by tax collection agencies and officials.
