Proposed changes to tax code expected out by May
THE Tax Research and Action Team (Tract) is set to produce the finalized list of amendments of Tax Code of Davao City by May.
Davao City Assistant Administrator Tristan Dwight Domingo in an interview with Sun.Star Davao said that they are now revising the proposed amendments particularly in the increases of revenue generating measures of the city.
“We have already conducted a lot of meetings and we are currently finetuning it. This is also in connection with the committee of finance ways and means and appropriations under Davao City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang and other committees of the council," he said.
He said their meetings include question and answer sessions and deliberation on the reasons why there are parts of the Tax code of the city must be deleted and why increase will be enforced on some areas.
“Everything is deliberated by the revenue generating offices, including the legality and the propriety of the measures they look forward,” he said.
He said that their meetings will be part of committee hearings, where the item will be discussed.
“Hopefully everything will be fine tuned by May 12 so the members of the council will also have a chance to go deeper with their discussions, most likely they will deliberate it with all the council members,” Domingo said.
He said the council will check for changes needed in the tax deliberate revenue measures and after that as required by law, public hearing will be conducted within the city before the law will be enacted.
“The law requires that the public is consulted before any increase will be enacted," he said.
Domingo is part of TRACT that was created City Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on October 3, 2016 to further im-
prove the city’s current revenue generation order to sustain delivery of public services.
The TRACT was tasked to “conduct massive tax campaign, monitor the operations and activities of all who are doing business in the city, and take necessary and appropriate action against erring business firms to require them to pay their taxes, fees and charges in the City of Davao.”
The EO underscored that tax policy should be based on sound revenue projections of the city’s financial requirements and an understanding of the existing and potential revenue base in its territory.
Domingo said that there is a need to change the tax code was not amended for ten years and they found that it is a high time to check if there are possible changes that may affect the cost of collection of the city.
He said that the money being collected by the city now may not be enough to supplement or support the needs of the city. KVC
Nobleza, on the other hand, was a former member of the now defunct PNP-Anti Illegal Drugs Group.
"Kung ano ang ginagawa niya hindi na sakop ng PNP, yung pakikipagrelasyon niya sa Abu Sayyaf, yung kanyang pag-balik-Islam. Ito may overt acts na ginawa kaya siya nahuli. Nahuli siya at kakasuhan natin siya dahil sa kriminal na kaso at administratively, siguradong tatangalin natin siya sa serbisyo. She is sleeping with the enemy," Dela Rosa said.
On April 22, Dungon who was driving the vehicle carrying Nobleza and several others, refused to stop at a checkpoint in Barangay Bacani, Clarin, that prompted the policemen to chase them.
Also on board the vehicle was an elderly woman reportedly the mother-in-law of the slain bomb maker Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan, Janjalani Khadafi, Abu Sulayman, and Akhmad Santos, all playing key positions in the Abu Sayyaf group, and a teenager who is allegedly Santos' child.
Intelligence operatives allegedly saw Nobleza throw a cellphone on the ground. It was traced and authorities found out that the police official was contacting members of the remaining Abu Sayaff members in Bohol.
Police said Nobleza was exchanging SMS with a member of the Abu Sayyaf group who was asking for rescue.
Dela Rosa, meanwhile, said Nobleza's arrest does not indicate that the PNP has been infiltrated by the bandit group.
"Hindi natin masabi na member siya ng Abu Sayyaf. Pwede siyang nagamit through her personal connections na naging boyfriend nga niya 'yung Abu Sayyaf na si Dungon. Do you think 'yung mga ibang mga pulis natin dito or sundalo walang relative na nasa kabila? Meron," he said.
"Personal choice na nila iyon kung maglipat na sila ng loyalty doon sa kabila then bahala sila. They have to face the consequences of their actions kaya nga ito ngayon tatanggalin sa serbisyo at kakasuhan natin," he added.
Dela Rosa believed that Nobleza went "crazy in love" with Dungon and allowed herself to be used for the group's criminal activities.
He said Nobleza should be dismissed from the police service.
Dela Rosa also said he instructed Central Visayas Police Regional Office director Noli Taliño to ask the court to commit Dungon and Nobleza to the PNP Custodial Center as they are considered as high risk detainees.
"Talagang high-risk sila. Marami magkakainteres sa kanila so kailangan ipapadala natin dito sa Crame para the people will be at peace na walang possibleng manggugulo sa kanila. Dito na lang guluhin n’yo Camp Crame para masaya tayo dito," he said.
On April 11, around 11 members of the bandit group onboard three speed boats penetrated Inabanga, Bohol that prompted the military and police to launch operations there leading to a firefight.
Six rebels, three soldiers and a policeman were killed in the firefight, while the remaining bandits have escaped.
On Saturday, another firefight ensued between the group and the government, troops which resulted in the killing of four Abu Sayaff members.
In a recent press conference, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa to imprison Nobleza.