Duterte wants to abolish the ROAD TAX so politicians can't use it in the 2019 elections - find out HOW they do it & SHARE

Is the "ROAD TAX"the real reason why former President Gloria is being publicly critical of President Rody Duterte?

In the January 08, 2019 issue of INQUIRER.net titled Palace: Duterte admin ‘achieved more’ than Arroyo and Aquino, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement after Arroyo called on the administration to produce “tangible results” this year to ease poverty.

Arroyo's public statement raised eyebrows among observers because the former president could have simply sent a "quiet letter" to Duterte expressing her concerns instead of saying things out publicly and embarrassing the President.

To call on the administration to produce “tangible results” to ease poverty is another way of telling the Duterte that he is not doing a good job.

The President is doing a GOOD JOB!

In retaliation, Panelo defended the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte by saying that Duterte's admin has “achieved more” compared to the combined terms of former Presidents Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno S. Aquino III, Malacañang.

Panelo's counter criticism of GMA is a subtle sign that something is brewing and the reason for the conflict is the "ROAD TAX" which some say might be aligned to be used by proGMA politicians.

Enter Andaya vs. Diokno.

House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. accused Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno conflict of interest betraying President Duterte while Minority Leader Danilo Suarez want Diokno to resign.

What is Diokno's explanation of why Andaya after him?

According to Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, it is because of the "road users tax" which is a source of corruption. Last December 19,2018, Diokno accused lawmakers from the House of Representatives of being interested in using road users' tax for the 2019 elections.

The Budget Secretary said he talked to the President and was told that Duterte wants the Road Board abolished and instructed Diokno not to release from the Fund until the issue of the Road Board was resolved.

What is the Road Board?

The board oversees funds collected from the Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC) solely for road maintenance and drainage improvement, the installation of traffic lights and road safety devices, and monitoring air pollution. The MVUC fund now stands at P45 billion.

The MVUC funds, however, has been tainted by corruption in past years, prompting calls for its abolition.

Diokno refused to release the fund, citing the impending abolition of the board.

The abolition of the Road Board was passed in the Senate and Congress under the leadership of Alvarez. It was also supported by Malacañang.

Under the term of the new House Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, however, Congress allegedly took it back.

House Minority Leader Representative Danilo Suarez questioned Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno when the Cabinet official said that the Palace will not release the fund of the Road Board in 2019.

According to former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, this is the reason why Suarez and other representatives called for the resignation of Diokno.

“Gusto nilang i-release ni Secretary Diokno 'yung pera diyan sa road user's tax. Eh ayaw nga ni Secretary Diokno dahil may instruction na si Presidente na i-abolish na 'yung Road Board na 'yan,” he said.

”Pag natanggal si Secretary Diokno, baka 'yung susunod, siguro gusto nila mag-gamble. Baka sakaling makumbinsi nila na i-release 'yung road user's fund,” Alvarez added.

Alvarez said that the Road Board has been offering projects to some representatives where they can have a share of kickbacks from a selected contractor.

“Kung sino 'yung gusto nilang bigyan na congressman, binibigyan nila. Depende 'yan kung anong usapan niyo sa Road Board,” Alvarez said.

“Minsan 'yung iba makakatanggap ng P500 million, 'yung iba mas maliit. Depende talaga sino 'yung malakas sa Road Board na 'yan,” he continued.

In the first six months of 2018, the fund from the motor vehicle user's charge collected by the Land Transportation Office reached P8 billion, while in 2017, it reached P14 billion.

Alvarez claimed that the Road Board once asked him for a list of projects before, when he was still the House speaker.

“Sinasabi ng Road Board bibigyan nga nila pero ang usapan dito 40 percent kanila. Sabi ko kalokohan 'yan… 'Di ko papayagan 'yan. Kaya sabi ko 'wag niyo na ko bigyan. Ayoko 'yan kung ganyan ang usapan,” he said.

On December 18, 2018. Andaya practically said that the House won’t abolish graft-ridden Road Board.