Archive for the ‘Noynoy Aquino’ Category

Liberal Party presidential candidate Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III slammed the proposal of Finance Secretary Margarito Teves to increase the value added tax from 12 to 15 percent, saying it would only be an added burden to the public.

Aquino said that instead of increasing the VAT, the government should be implementing effective and efficient tax collection measures. He cited that in 2009, money lost due to graft and corruption was estimated to be P280 billion.

In a statement, Aquino said
“This is the easy way out. We can collect more taxes at the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenues) and higher duties at Customs if we become more serious in curbing and punishing tax evasion and smuggling,”
…
“We will not shift the burden of improving revenue collection to the Filipino people. This government dug up this debt hole we’re in; an Aquino administration will try its best to dig us out of it by addressing the main reason we have not been able to collect taxes properly: corruption”

Full story: Noynoy hits proposed hike in VAT
Complete list of national candidates

Liberal Party presidential candidate Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III courted vote-rich Pampanga province, political bailiwick of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

At a press conference in the Jose Feliciano College in Mabalacat town, Noynoy Aquino said he is not giving up on pro-Arroyo Pampanga. He was accompanied by Pampanga Governor Ed Panlilio, who is seeking re-election, and LP vice gubernatorial candidate Marco Lazatin.

Aquino noted that Pampangenos backed up his father, martyred senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., and his mother, the late former president Corazon Aquino, during the martial law era.

“Ito po’y huling kampanya ko na rin, bumabalik po ako sa aking pinagmulan. At ako’y umaasa na talagang ngayon ho makakadesisyon nang malaya ang ating mga kababayan at makikita natin po uli yung talagang pagkatagal-tagalan na ugnayan at pagtutulungan po natin,(This is my last campaign, and I am going back to where I began. I am hoping that the people can now decide freely and we will see the relations and assistance we have long extended to one another.)” said Aquino, who has previously said he won’t run for any other position after his presidential term if he wins in the May elections.

Noynoy courts voters in Arroyo home province
List of National candidates

Liberal Party presidential candidate Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III joined girlfriend Shalani Soledad in Barangay Marulas, Valenzuela City on the first day of campaign for local positions. Shalani Soledad is a candidate for councilor in Valenzuela City.

“Paborito kong konsehal sa buong Pilipinas (My favorite councilor in the Philippines),” Aquino said about Soledad, amid wild cheers from the the crowd gathered inside a basketball court in Barangay Marulas.

Egged by the crowd to kiss Shalani, Noynoy said he couldn’t because he still needed to take a bath as he had just came from a campaign sortie.

“Mamaya na lang ho… Kami na lang ho pagkaligo ko (Maybe a little later, when I am able to take a bath),” Aquino said in jest.

Full story: Noynoy joins girlfriend Shalani in Valenzuela campaign

See complete list of national candidates
See complete list of Valenzuela City candidates

Joseph “Erap’ Estrada asked why did former President Corazon Aquino free the leader of the mainstream communist organization in the country?

Reacting to to Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s earlier statement that Mrs. Arroyo should not have pardoned the deposed leader, Erap Estrada blasted Noynoy Aquino and criticized former President Cory Aquino’s decision to release Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison.

“Noong naupo ang kaniyang ina eh, pinarelease niya ang komunista na si Jose Maria Sison, tapos pinasunod niya si [Nur] Misuari [at pinalaya] niya si…Kumander Dante,” Estrada said, referring to former Moro National Liberation Front chairman Nur Misuari and former New People’s Army leader Bernabe “Dante” Buscayno.

Estrada conveniently omitted that he was found guilty of plunder, while Sison, Misuari and Buscayno were political detainees and in jail for rebellion.

Estrada also said it was Mrs. Arroyo’s prerogative to grant him executive clemency, which he said he did not ask for. “Hindi ako hihingi ng pardon. Binigay sa akin, bakit naman hindi ko tatanggapin (I did not ask for any pardon. It was given to me, why will I not accept it),” the former leader told Hiritan 2010 host Arnold Clavio.

Estrada also conveniently omitted that he, through his lawyer Jose Flaminiano, formally asked President Arroyo to grant him pardon after his lawyers withdrew an appeal for the Sandiganbayan to reverse its Sept. 12, 2007 ruling that found him guilty of plunder

Details at Erap reminds Noynoy: Cory freed CPP leader Joma Sison

Reuters published excerpts for economic plans of the top four presidential candidates in the Philippines.

SENATOR BENIGNO SIMEON “NOYNOY” AQUINO III

“Noynoy” Aquino vowed to go after tax evaders and big smugglers, to collect an additional P150 billion and raise the government’s current 13% tax efficiency rate to 15%. His action plan includes a “zero budgeting” measure to re-examine all major ticket items under the 2010 budget to recover P 280 billion lost to corruption in 2009.

SENATOR MANUEL VILLAR

Manny Villar vowed to plug tax leakages and spend public funds wisely and prudently. Villar hopes to increase the tax-to-GDP ratio to 17 percent but has not given details on how he would raise tax collection. He promised “zero tolerance” of graft and corruption, adding he would pursue smugglers and tax evaders.

FORMER PRESIDENT JOSEPH ESTRADA

Erap Estrada promised not to impose new taxes and raise tax rates and lower consumption taxes, but he did not give any details of his fiscal programme.   He also promised to improve peace and order, and spend more on agriculture and rehabilitation of badly needed infrastructure.

FORMER DEFENCE CHIEF GILBERTO TEODORO

Teodoro said he would avoid imposing new taxes but if such a move was necessary, he favoured raising consumption taxes from the current 12 percent to 15 percent. In exchange for a higher sales tax, he vowed to eventually lower personal income tax rates and simplify tax administration. Hepromised to study an increase in the excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol.

More details in Economic policies of Philippine presidential hopefuls

Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Benigno “Noynoy” S. Aquino III urged Cebuanos to take part in the people power to eliminate corruption. He repeated to Cebuanos his call for a people power against graft and corruption made during the 24th Anniversary of the People Power Revolution of 1986.

Aquino and running mate Senator Mar Roxas stressed the need for the people, particularly the youth, to fight corruption in the government, which has kept millions of Filipinos hungry, jobless, and out of school.

More on Aquino Rallies People Power Volunteers in Cebu