De Lima hits House Speaker’s ‘gangster-type leadership’

Senator Leila de Lima on Wednesday scored House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s “gangster-type of leadership” after the latter sought a review on tax exemptions granted to religious schools.

“The bullying and arm twisting go on," De Lima said in a handwritten letter from her detention facility at the PNP Custodial Center in Camp Crame. 

“After threatening to strip of committee chairmanships the members of Congress who would vote against the death penalty, Speaker Alvarez now wants to impose taxes on religious academic institutions apparently in retaliation for their anti-EJK/anti-death penalty stance,” De Lima said.

“Oh my...we’re witnessing a gangster-type of leadership in the other chamber of Congress and for that matter, the highest echelon of government,” the senator, presently detained for drug-related charges, said.

Reached for his comment, Alvarez said: “Mag comment na lang ako sa statement niya pag hindi na siya nakakulong.”

Alvarez, a close ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, said he was firm on replacing other House leaders who voted against the death penalty bill. 

On Monday, he said the government must review tax exemptions granted to religious institutions, particularly those who run schools.

Alvarez raised this at a hearing by the House ways and means committee on the proposed tax reform program of the Duterte administration. — Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez and Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/RSJ, GMA News