By Jelly Musico/PNA
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte is against the Road Board from “day one” and he wants it abolished, Malacañang said on Friday.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said he asked Duterte about his position on the graft-ridden Road Board on Thursday night during the courtesy call of newly-crowned Miss Universe Catriona Gray on the President at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.
“I will quote his exact words, he said: ‘Day one, I was already against this Road Users Tax, because ginagamit lang yan, ginagawa lang gatasan ng mga corrupt na mga politiko’ (because it is being used as milking cow by corrupt politicians),” Panelo said.
“So that’s the position of the President — he doesn’t like it, he wants it abolished,” he added.
Asked if the President wants both the Road Board and the Road Users Tax abolished, Panelo replied: “I think so, that’s — logically that would be the consequence”.
Panelo made this clarification after House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya reportedly claimed that he and House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo met with the President in a dinner last September.
During said occasion at the Palace, Andaya said Duterte agreed not to abolish the Road Board.
Panelo said Andaya was either was “not listening to the President closely or he misunderstood what the President said”.
Panelo also doubts Andaya’s claim that Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez and some Cabinet members went to Congress and Arroyo and told the lawmakers: “Huwag ninyong galawin ‘yang budget na ‘yan, kay Presidente ‘yan.” (Don’t touch that [MVUC] budget, that’s for President)”.
“They will never do that, (that’s) out of character iyon kay (of) Secretary Dominguez… (he is) straight iyon,” Panelo said.
Meanwhile, Panelo said the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office has received the bill abolishing the Road Board.
“The problem is, according to the House, it was not signed by Speaker Arroyo but ES (Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea) was saying that that’s ministerial,” he said.
“Siguro (Perhaps), if the President really wants to end this, he will sign it and then they [House] will go to the court. Those in the House, they may question it,” he added.
The Senate adopted the House version of the bill on September 12 but later, the House of Representatives rescinded its approval of the bill.
