The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it respects the decision of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to veto the bill exempting poll worker honoraria from taxes.
"We respect the Office of the President, which has the power to veto such matters," Comelec Acting Spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said in a press briefing in Manila, Monday, August 1.
The poll official, however, is not discounting the possibility of similar proposals being filed in Congress in the future.
"We are confident that this will not be the end. There will likely be another push for this similar bill," said Laudiangco.
He also believes that the move will not discourage teachers from serving in the December 2022 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.
"As in previous elections, the teachers have been serving despite their honoraria being taxed. This only shows that the teachers' desire goes beyond the honoraria. They really want to serve," said Laudiangco.
The President vetoed House Bill No. 9652/Senate Bill No. 2520 entitled “An Act Exempting from Income Taxation the Honoraria, Allowances, and Other Financial Benefits of Persons Rendering Service During an Election Period" as it runs counter to the government’s Comprehensive Tax Reform Program.