Duterte to Pinoys: No reason to be sad over being taxed

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday assured the public he will not allow corruption to thrive in the government under his watch, so the public should not be 'sad' about the taxes levied on their shoulders.

"Do not be so sad about being taxed because your money here during my term is safe," he said during a Presidential Awards ceremony in Malacañang.

On Tuesday, Duterte approved the imposition of the second round of increases in the excise taxes of petroleum products in 2019, taking heed of his economic managers' advice to take back a previous decision suspending it.

The move was done under the Tax Reforms for Acceleration and Inclusion Act (TRAIN Law) which Duterte signed last year.

Stakeholders, especially those who are in the transport sector, have been asking the government to suspend even the existing excise tax on petroleum products as it has already dealt a great impact on their daily survival.

Senator Chiz Escudero also filed a resolution on Wednesday urging President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider the implementation of the second tranche of excise tax on fuel, or at least consider its immediate suspension when inflation becomes uncontrollable again anytime in 2019.

On the other hand, Duterte assured the people that he will not condone the squandering of public funds, as proven by his previous action of sacking allegedly corrupt officials.

"I will not allow corruption. I have fired so many Cabinet members for just an infraction," he added.

Duterte recently fired a housing official over corruption allegations. —Dona Magsino/LBG, GMA News