President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Sunday, June 3, said he is leaving the fate the controversial Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) amidst calls from critics to suspend it due to its inflationary effects.
“Well, the law was enacted by Congress, I’ll leave it to Congress to decide whether or not to amend or suspend or modify the law,” Mr. Duterte said in his speech at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 before his flight to South Korea.
He added: “I’ll leave it to Congress. There’s no value in giving much — of what I want. Because kung sabihin ko naman na (if I say that) we need it for the Build, Build, Build at kung sabihinwala naman akong magawa (and they say otherwise, then there’s nothing I can do). At kung sabihin naman nila (And if they say) well, we’ll just have to bite the bullet and go on, eh wala rin akong magawa kung ‘yan ang decision nila (there’s also nothing I can do because that’s the Congress’ decision).” — Arjay L. Balinbin