Respondents, including President Duterte, given 10 days to comment on them
By Moira Encina
Eagle News Service
The Supreme Court has ordered the consolidation of the two petitions challenging the constitutionality of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.
The High Court on Tuesday also said that it has directed the respondents to comment on the petitions separately filed by militant lawmakers and consumer group Laban Konsyumer Inc.
Named respondents in the petitions were President Rodrigo Duterte, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, BIR Commissioner Caesar Dulay, Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu, Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, and Deputy Majority Leader Arthur Defensor Jr.
According to SC spokesperson Theodore Te, the respondents had 10 days to submit their comment.
In arguing for the unconstitutionality of TRAIN, the petitioners argued that there was no quorum when the House of Representatives approved the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed law.
They also noted that the imposition of higher excise taxes on fuel, among others, would only result in an added burden on the poorest of the poor, who they said would have to contend with higher prices of consumer goods.
