Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino has appealed to Malacanang to suspend the excise tax on fuel under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (Train) Law to ease the burden of consumers.The senator made the call as oil companies announced that they would raise their pump prices.
“I appeal to President Duterte to suspend the additional tax on petroleum to help our fellowmen,” Aquino said.
“The people have no one to turn to but Malacanang because Congress has adjourned its session),” he added.
Aquino was one of four senators who voted against the ratification of the Train Law in December 2018.
In May 2018, he filed the Bawas Presyo sa Petrolyo Bill, seeking to suspend and roll back the excise tax on fuel under the Train Law once the country’s inflation rate exceeds the government’s target for three straight months.
“I hope that even temporarily, through the suspension of excise tax on oil, our people will have some respite from their everyday struggle against poverty,” he said in Filipino.
 With oil prices in the world market rising, he said the government should immediately suspend the excise tax on fuel under the Train Law to help lower prices of petroleum products.