Big fish too big EDITORIAL 07/19/2010

Big fish too big

EDITORIAL Click to enlarge 07/19/2010 So where are the real big fish? Nearly three weeks into the Aquino presidency and not a big fish is being caught, much less in his sight. The public instead was treated to a fat fish, which temporarily stops the craving but there still is nothing big to hang up the wall. Presented before the public last week as a supposed showcase of the effort against tax cheats in a Lamborghini-riding pawnshop operator. The Bureau of Internal Revenue last Thursday filed before the Department of Justice, a criminal complaint for tax evasion in the amount of P22.5 million against a pawnshop owner. Pawnbrokers do get rich, but compared to the really rich tax evaders and smugglers, that pawnbroker held up as the Noynoy administration’s Exhibit A, is a small fry. Noynoy’s promise was for a rich haul of the country’s biggest smugglers to fire off his drive against corruption and tax fraud. During the campaign period, Noynoy even bragged that he already holds a list of the country’s top smugglers and he promised they will start falling the moment he steps into Malacañang. That moment was some three weeks back. Many, thus, are expecting the first one to fall, based on a new promise, coming from Noynoy’s economic team, that one tax cheat that will be charged each week, will be a smuggler who had remained an untouchable until now — not a lowdown tax evader, who deserves to be tried and rot in jail if found guilty.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20100719com1.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Big fish too big FRONTLINE More than just ‘good men’ focus Global economic crisis threatens fight against AIDS C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Zubiri’s dare; Neri’s nyet DIE HARD III Insidious illogic in Pagcor privatization HE SAYS Basyang’s wrath and mine SHE SAYS Still stormy