Roxas condemns "gestapo" tactics of threatening biz community

Senator Mar Roxas condemned the “Gestapo” tactics of the administration in threatening the business community and other professional circles that are vocal in their support of Senate witness Jun Lozada and the overall quest of the truth behind the ZTE-NBN mess.

Roxas issued the statement amid revelations of the Makati Business Club (MBC) that a Cabinet official threatened to unleash the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on anti-administration members.

“The BIR was created to make sure that taxation becomes a tool for social and economic development, not as a Damocles’ Sword hovering over detractors of the administration,” he added.

The senator said he was outraged by the reported threat of the unnamed Cabinet official because it shows gross disrespect for the people's sacrifices in paying heavy taxes on goods and services such as the EVAT.

“Para bang kung kakampi ka ng administrasyon, puwede kang hindi magbayad ng tax. Pero kung magsasalita ka laban sa administrasyon, humanda ka dahil pakakawalan namin ang BIR para habulin kayo. Ang net effect nito, ang laging naiipit sa ganito – ay ‘yung mga maliliit na manggagawa na walang kawala sa BIR dahil salary deduction ang kita nila buwan-buwan,” Roxas stressed. “The people are tired of all these Gestapo tactics: EO 464, CPR, the use of surveillance and threats, excessive shows of force, abductions and extra-judicial killings, and the continued abuse of government power for political gain or survival. Let the Constitution prevail,” Roxas said.

The LP president called on the people to be vigilant against further use of Gestapo tactics by the administration. “When our basic rights and freedom as a people are at stake, we must rise as one in fighting for these ideals,” Roxas said.