Gatchalian eyes additional taxes for wealthy individuals

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday said he is looking at adding more taxes on wealthy individuals to generate more income for the government.

Interviewed on Dobol B TV, Gatchalian said it is curious that the country's billionaires are not among its top taxpayers.

"Makikita natin may lumalabas na billionaires list... Wala dun sa mga pangalang iyon ang top taxpayers natin," said Gatchalian, who is poised to head the Senate ways and means committee in the 19th Congress.

(We see the list of billionaires... none of the names on the list are top taxpayers.)

Gatchalian also noted that the country's top taxpayers are mostly TV and movie personalities. "Pero yung mga nasa billionaires list, wala kang makikita doon [sa listahan ng top taxpayers]. Doon ka magtataka," he said.

(But those on billionaires list are not on the list of top taxpayers. That's hard to believe.)

Gatchalian said he is planning to file a bill that will add more taxes on the rich and expressed confidence that it will get the support of other lawmakers.

"Meron talagang dapat ayusin sa sistema natin para yung mga may kaya o yung mayayaman ay mas mataasan naman ang kanilang bayaran," he said.

(Something must be really be fixed in the system so that the rich will have to pay more taxes.)

"Walang magagawa kung salita nang salita pero di maghahanap ng pondong mapagkukunan," he added later in the interview.

(We'll accomplish nothing by just talking and not finding ways to look for funds.) —KBK, GMA News