The House Committee on Ways and Means approved on Monday (Sept. 7) a substitute measure seeking to spare from donor’s tax donations made to the Philippine National Police (PNP).
According to the bill, donations made to the PNP to be used actually, directly and exclusively for its Revitalisation and Capability Enhancement Program, shall be exempt from donor’s tax and the same shall be considered as allowable deduction from gross income of the donor for purposes of computing taxable income in accordance with the provisions of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended.
"Likewise, donations from foreign sources shall be exempt from value-added tax and customs duties,” as stated in the bill.
After more than 30 minutes of virtual deliberations, the House panel, chaired by Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda passed the unnumbered substitute measure, which provides for the revitalisation and capability enhancement of the PNP, "with amendments."
“Wala akong makita, bakit 'yung isang bagay na kailangan gamitin para sa national purposes eh, bakit pa bubuwisan 'yan eh, tayo naman ang nakikinabang,” Salceda said, before the panel’s approval of the measure, principally authored by Deputy Speaker and Misaims Occidental 2nd District Rep. Henry Oaminal.
(I don’t see any reason why one thing we needed for the national purposes should be taxed, since we are benefiting from it.)
Masbate 1st District Rep. Narciso Bravo Jr., chairperson of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety sought the approval of the proposed "PNP Revitalization and Capability Enhancement Act.”
"This bill seeks to transform the Philippine National Police (PNP) into a highly efficient, capable, and competent police force in order to fully perform its mandate as the primary law enforcement agency of the government,” he said in his sponsorship speech.
He said once the measure is passed into law, the proposed “revitalized" PNP is expected to continuously carry out effective policing functions and law enforcement operations, deliver timely and responsive frontline public safety services.
It will also pursue a comprehensive and integrated approach against transnational crime and emerging forms of criminality, insurgency, terrorism and other serious threats to national security, he added.
The Salceda panel specifically passed Section 10 of the proposed Act or the “Treatment of the Purchases and Importation of PNP.”
It was Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Estrellita Suansing, vice chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, who introduced amendments to the substitute measure. Suansing’s amendments were adopted by Oaminal and Bravo.
The amended substitute measure provides that "all Internal revenue tax and duty obligations from purchase and importation of munitions and ordnance, firepower and weapons, transportation and mobility assets, communication, intelligence, investigative and forensic equipment and other equipment by the PNP, under the Revitalization and Capability Enhancement Program, where such acquisition directly or exclusively relates to the performance of its police and law enforcement functions; or may be needed in public transactions; or in the pursuit of any government undertaking, shall be chargeable to the tax expenditure fund provided in the General Appropriations Act.”