Phillipines: Recto''s ''Practical'' Sin Tax Proposal Similar to Tobacco Industry''s

Source from:  GMA News 11/29/2012

Sen. Ralph Recto insists his sin tax proposal is the "most practical," but it is actually very similar to the taxes recommended by the tobacco industry. Recto resigned from the chairmanship of the committee that produced the controversial bill after various sectors and even a Senate colleague accused him of caving in to the tobacco industry. With the senator from Batangas out of the picture the committee – now headed by Sen. Franklin Drilon – intends to tackle the proposed measure starting Wednesday with a view to modifying and bringing it closer to what the executive branch wanted all along in terms of additional revenues from a new excise tax structure on tobacco and alcohol products. Critics claimed Recto caved in to the wishes of cigarette companies as the taxes he proposed were very similar to the industry proposal. The tobacco multinational Philip Morris built one of its largest cigarette plants in Batangas, whose governor is Recto's wife, actress Vilma Santos. Enditem