PEZA chief Plaza believes she's not the one to be fired by Duterte

Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Director General Charito Plaza believes she is not the economic official floated by President Rodrigo Duterte to be fired.

"I don’t feel I am the one being alluded to," Plaza said at a press briefing in Taguig City on Wednesday. "I am just doing my job," she added.

On Tuesday, Duterte said a female official of his administration is expected to get the ax not because of corrupt practices but due to poor performance.

“May tanggalin na naman ako. Though she is not corrupt, she is not in parity with others in terms of performance,” the President said.

“She is handling an economic office…I have to [make the] change,” he added.

Plaza and the Department of Finance (DOF) have locked horns over the proposed rationalization of fiscal incentives under the proposed Corporate Income Tax and Incentives Rationalization Act or CITIRA.

The bill or the second package of the tax reform agenda aims to reduce the corporate income tax rate from 30% to 20% in 10 years and rationalize all fiscal incentives under one omnibus code.

The PEZA is fighting to keep the incentives for investors in light of the Duterte administration’s initiative to rationalize fiscal perks. 

"I am facing all this risk because I want to protect the interests of the Filipino people," Plaza said.

"He (Duterte) is fair and just. He listens. Before making an announcement whether it is me or not, it will be good if the President will give us time to be heard."

The PEZA chief said the agency has been requesting for an audience with President Duterte, "but I have not been granted one."

Plaza has earlier raised a caveat against revamping the tax incentives, saying it will weaken the trust and confidence of investors. — MDM, GMA News