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This Is Where Our Taxes Go: Akbayan slams Contractors, People’s Taxes are not for Luxury
(Supplied)
Akbayan Partylist held an action at St. Gerrard Construction, one of the top 15 contractors that cornered 20% of the flood control budget and is implicated in substandard or even non-existent projects. The company is owned by Sara Discaya, who is recently exposed for her lavish lifestyle, the company has become a symbol of how people’s taxes are squandered on luxury instead of public service.
Deputy Minority Leader Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña slammed public works contractors such as the Discayas for misappropriating public funds: “The widespread uproar and condemnation of such flagrant displays of wealth by the likes of Discaya is deserved. But more than condemnation–dapat kasuhan at ikulong ang mga nangungulimbat ng buwis ng mamamayan,” Rep. Cendaña stressed.
Rep. Cendaña added: “Kagaya nung isang katukayo niya, itong Sarah D hindi rin tinamaan ng hiya sa pag-flex ng mga luho. Hindi inspirational ang pangungulimbat. Hindi po pang FYP ang inyong na-SOP sa korapsyon.”
The lawmaker also commended inquisitive netizens for helping to unearth evidence of corruption of contractors and public officials. Rep. Cendaña also urged bringing back the policy of publishing SALNs of public officials to deter corruption.
“We should embrace the moral outrage of our citizens. Kasama ang mamamayan sa pagsugpo ng katiwalian–hindi sila tagasubaybay lang,”
Student Council Alliance of the Philippines Secretary General Matthew Silverio underscored the youth’s outrage over the scandal, stressing that public money wasted on ghost projects could have transformed lives.
“Habang milyon-milyon ang nalulunod sa baha at walang maayos na paaralan, may mga kontratista namang nalulunod sa luho,” Silverio said.
He added that the youth will not remain silent in the face of corruption. “The money that was stolen could have gone to building classrooms, hiring more teachers, and securing a better future for the next generation Hindi lang ito usapin ng flood control projects na hindi makita—ito ay usapin ng kinabukasan ng kabataan at ng bayan.”
