[This is only a simulation of the strategic crisis execution of the presidential aspirant once he became elected as the Chief Executive of the country. Although some data that will be mentioned are real, all the scenarios are non-fiction and purely made up by the station for the segment.]
Presidential aspirant Leody De Guzman said on Wednesday that he wants to tax the rich to source funds for the government's response to the pandemic.
"Ang isang immediate [ay] mag-impose ng wealth tax doon sa mga mayayaman," he said during the Bakit Ikaw: The Presidential Job Interview.
(One immediate response is to impose a wealth tax on the rich.)
According to De Guzman, convincing the rich to get taxed will be easy because of the practice of corporate social responsibility.
"Para sa kaligtasan ng ating mamamayan, tingin ko madali naman silang makakausap, mauunawaan, dahil sila naman ay mayroong practice na corporate social responsibility," he said.
(When it comes to the safety of the public, I think they can be talked to easily since they have the practice of corporate social responsibility.)
"May practice na silang ganyan, kaya pwede na lang nating palakihin - lalo na't kung ganyan ang magiging sitwasyon," he added.
(They have a practice like that, something that we can expand, especially when it comes to that situation.)
"Kaya 'yung ang ating gagawin agad na magkaroon ng 20% levy para dun sa kanilang mga kayamanan and then para ma-sustain, ay yung 1% to 3% wealth tax taon-taon depende sa laki."
(So what we will do is have a 20% levy on their wealth and in order to sustain, we will have one percent to three percent tax wealth every year depending on the figures.)
He made the remarks during a simulation segment in the job interview where he becomes president and is asked where to get funds for the trillions needed to sustain a long-term pandemic response.
However, when asked how to tax a select number of people, De Guzman – who was also described by the interview panelist as left-leaning – said lawmakers would understand the need to pass a wealth tax despite some of them being a part of the sector.
According to the labor leader, there are a lot of progressive members among lawmakers and even those who are right-leaning who would agree with the proposal if it comes down to the safety of the nation.
"Pag usapin na ng kaligtasan ng bansa, kaligtasan ng mamamayan ay mauunwaan nila 'yan at tingin ko papasa 'yung ganung panukala at 'yan naman ay hindi kathang isip dahil maraming bansa ang nagpapatupad niyan," he said.
(When it comes to the safety of the country, safety of the public, they will understand this and I think they will pass this proposal, and this one is not made up because a lot of countries are doing it.)
