By ELLEN T. TORDESILLAS
IF only the evidence of corruption against Vice President Jojo Binay were not overwhelming, I would consider voting for him in the May election simply because of his promise that those earning P30,000 a month (annual income of P360,000) and below will be exempted from paying income tax.
Kim Henares’ BIR is really a heavy cross for freelance workers who are not earning a lot.
When I was a fulltime employee of Ang Pahayagang Malaya, filing of income tax returns was taken care of by the office accountant. Since my retirement from the newspaper, I have been doing freelance work. I have to do my own filing with the BIR. It’s so stressful.
I was compelled to register as “single proprietor” with the BIR because companies I deal with require receipts. With or without income, I have to file a monthly percentage tax. Then I have to file the quarterly tax, then the annual income tax return and renewal of annual registration every January.
It’s like my life now is devoted to filing something with the BIR every month. It has happened a number of times that I missed filing the monthly percentage tax and the quarterly income tax. Even just a one day delay, I had to pay P1,000.
Ang bigat.
Binay is wise for targeting these group of indignant voters. To those who doubt if that could be done without sacrificing public services, he said at his campaign kick-off rally at Welfareville in Mandaluyong City Tuesday, that the government is losing billions of pesos due to unabated smuggling, inefficient tax collection, and improper use of public funds. He said that his government would prioritize reversing that situation so as not to add to the burden of the Filipino workers.
His promise appeals to the Filipino middle-income workers. Now, if only he is not embroiled in corruption charges.
Just like Binay’s speech last Tuesday that also promised free uniforms, books and school items for public school students and expansion of the Conditional Cash Transfer, other candidates also delivered speeches that would define their campaign. Those are the messages that they would be saying again and again in their rallies in the next three months until May 7.
Miriam Santiago, who said she is on remission from lung cancer, didn’t disappoint media with another “hugot” line while addressing rallies in Ilocos Norte to jump start the campaign. At the Mariano Marcos University, her face noticeably quivering, she said: “If I die before I finish my six-year term, Sen. Marcos, will be more than able fit for the position.”
Rodrigo Duterte made a variation of his standard boast of having killed those he suspected of engaging in criminal activities and promise of doing more of it if and when he becomes president.
At his kickoff rally in Tondo, he included the militant Kilusang Mayo Uno or KMU in his hit list. He promised to provide jobs through economic zones. “ Mag-imbita ako, dito kayo magtrabaho. Wag kayong… magmamadali. Tapos kayong mga KMU, medyo pigilan na muna ninyo ang mga labor unions. Ako na ang nakikiusap sa inyo. Wag ninyong gawin iyan. Kasi sisirain mo ang administrasyon ko. Kapag ginawa ninyo iyan, patayin ko kayong lahat. Ang solusyon dito, patayan na. Eh pag-usapan mo, ayaw. Do not do it now, iyung active labor front. Kasi kapag ginawa ninyo, nagsasara. Do not do it. Give the Philippines respect for about 10 years.”
Grace Poe at Plaza Miranda was also in a fighting mood against poverty, criminality, inefficient government service, long lines in the MRT, exhausting traffic. She borrowed a quote from one of FPJ’s movies: “Puno na ang salop ng kahirapan, puno na ang salop ng katiwalian. Dapat na itong kalusin.”
The Liberal Party’s Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo had their kick-off rally in the former’s province with no less than President Aquino raising the hands of the Liberal Party’s candidates.
Roxas reiterated his call for the people to join him in the next chapter of Tuwid na Daan.
Continuing his negative campaign strategy, Roxas promoted himself while stigmatizing his opponents as “thieves, abusers, and tricksters.”
Although still lagging in the surveys, Roxas declared: “We are here. We are unstoppable. We will win.”