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Saturday, March 19, 2005
Senator: Impose text tax to pay veterans
* Senator Richard Gordon says the government owes the war veterans P24 billion
SENATOR Richard Gordon called on the government Friday to the pay the P24-billion compensation of the Filipino war veterans.
But because the government cannot afford to pay the country's wartime heroes, Gordon suggested that tax should be imposed on text messaging to raise funds.
"Papano tayo makakahingi sa Amerikano kung hindi natin binabayaran ang mga beterano natin? (How can we ask from the Americans if we don't pay our own veterans first?)," the senator, who was the guest speaker during the 60th Commemoration of Victory Day in Panay, Guimaras and Romblon, told reporters after the program at the Freedom Grandstand in Iloilo City.
"Walang pera but there's a law na dapat bayaran," he said.
Gordon said the tax from text messaging - seen to fetch P73 million on the first year--is intended for education, but after two years, the government would have already built the classrooms needed, amounting to P35 billion.
After that, he said, the remaining funds could be used to pay the veterans.
The senator said the tax for text bill would be tackled in a committee hearing soon.
"When we can do that, I think we'll have a chance," he said.
Gordon said that aside from the World War II veterans, those who fought during the Korean war would also be compensated.
About 18,000 veterans fought during the Japanese occupation but only 2,000 are surviving.
Moreover, Gordon said the Filipino-American war veterans in the United States should also lobby for more compensation from the US Government.
"'Yun dapat ipaglaban natin iyon. The Filipino-Americans there should lobby for it," he said.
He said he would also meet with his friends in the US Senate to push for such measure. (NLG)
(March 19, 2005 issue)
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