BATANGAS, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / July 24, 2008) - Women's Party group GABRIELA on Thursday criticized the appointment of a former Philippine senator Ralph Recto as chief of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).
"Hindi na nga siya binoto mismo ng kanyang mga kababayan dito sa Timog Katagalugan, ngayon ipinagkakatiwala pa ni Gng Arroyo ang NEDA sa kanya. Bilang pangunahing isponsor ng batas na VAT, malaki ang kasalanan ni G. Ralph Recto sa mamamayan," said Helen Asdolo, secretary-general of the Gabriela in Southern Tagalog region.
Asdolo aid: "We have rejected him in the senatorial elections. Even the women of Batangas refused to throw their 100% support. He has been unmasked as anti-poor. The proponent of the burdensome 12% Value Added Tax should not be placed at the helm of the Philippine economy."
"That he has been placed in NEDA only shows the Arroyo government’s resolve to pursue its anti-poor policies. It is evidence of the Arroyo government’s refusal to listen to the people’s demands to remove the VAT. Lalong walang maaasahang alwan ang mga maralita sa ilalim ng rehimeng Arroyo lalu pa’t ang mismong may pakana pa ng VAT ang itinatalaga sa NEDA."
Other militant groups also opposed Recto's appointment, calling it, a "political reward" by President Gloria Arroyo to a losing senate candidate.
Recto lost in previous polls, but his wife, Vilma Santos, a movie actress and former governor of Batangas province, won. Both are known allies of Arroyo, herself accused of cheating and fraud in the 2004 presidential elections. (With reports from the Mindanao Examiner)
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