Poll Tax is Good But ....

Malacañang is wondering why there is so much fuss over the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s proposed 5-percent tax on campaign contributions.

“The 5-percent campaign tax is within the purview of the expanded withholding tax system of the BIR which is allowed under the BIR Code and it has been in existence for about 30 years now,” Anthony Golez, deputy presidential spokesperson, said in a briefing. (Source here)

The government has the right to tax so why really is there a fuss over campaign taxes? Let us count the ways...

First and foremost: Where did our taxes go?

• To fancy hotels and restaurants? I love those dinners. Highly paid chefs are indeed better than tikboy's mom.
  
• As payments for houses and mansions in and out the Philippines of high ranking officials? Oh, by the way, I love that house near the beach.
• As payments for luxury cars of select officials? Or as payments for the gas of said cars? Too bad, Tikboy's kariton could not even roll dahil mahal ang grasa.
• As payments to the wines and liquor everytime the day is stressful? Hmmn... si Mang Tonyo nga gin-bulag lang. Si Mang Gustin, yung hindi nagpapabayad na superhero, tuba nga lang kaya tuwing umaga parang may nag-i-spray paint sa kubeta. Sabagay, wala ngang pera kaya papaano maka-afford kahit pekeng brandy?
• As pocket money ng mga nagja-junket? Teka, ano na nga pala ang nangyari sa mga nagpunta sa Russia? Nasiyahan kaya si Misis sa shopping?
  
• As easy cash sa bulsa ng iilan? Pang-shopping kaya? Pambayad sa bodyguards?
  
• Ano pa kaya? I'm sure me alam kayo na hindi alam ni Tikboy.

Second, nagde-declare kaya ang mga pulitiko ng tamang expenses? Bulong-bulungan, si Gloria in the Palace nga gumasta ng P8 billion as campaign expenses. Pero ang declaration, barya lang daw! Iilang milyon lang. Worse, kahit ang barya, ni hindi na-subject sa tax. Pero sabi ng BIR at ng Malacanang, matagal ng batas ang witholding tax. HELLLLOOOEEEERRRR!!!!!! Naglolokohan ba tayo?