Probe on sin tax law violations backed

MANILA, Philippines - Anti-tobacco groups have backed calls for an investigation into the malpractices in the implementation of the Sin Tax Law.

Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines executive director Maricar Limpin said tolerating violations of the law could set a bad precedent, thus undermining the purpose of making cigarettes unaffordable for the Filipino people.

Limpin said the investigation should cover not only tobacco firm Mighty Corp. but other cigarette manufacturers as well.

“They get to undermine the law and prevent us from achieving the main objectives of sin tax: health and revenues,” she said.

Emer Rojas, president of the New Vois Association of the Philippines, said an assessment of the sin tax law is necessary.

Mighty Corp. has been criticized for selling cigarettes at a price below the cost of production, excise tax and value added tax (VAT).

The Department of Health and lawmakers, led by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Juan Edgardo Angara, had prodded the joint congressional oversight committee on the Sin Tax Law to look into the alleged tax malpractices of Mighty Corp.