Arroyo inciting people to revolt through bigger taxes, higher power rates
April 23, 2005

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) said that the people are being incited to revolt by no less than Philippine president Gloria Arroyo.

In a statement, CPP spokesperson Gregorio "Ka Roger" Rosal said that by imposing higher electricity rates, allowing incessant oil price increases, pushing for more burdensome tax measures and blocking much-needed wage and salary increases, Arroyo is exacerbating already oppressive economic conditions and pushing the people anew to wage an uprising.

Rosal cited the Arroyo government's approval yesterday of another round of increases in power rates charged by the National Power Corporation (Napocor), which would result in an electricity rate hike of more than P1/kWh by the end of April.

"This latest order further angers the Filipino people who are already outraged over the weekly oil price hikes that have been hounding them since March," Rosal added.

He said that massive factory, office and transport strikes and street demonstrations have become "more and more inevitable" in the face of the Arroyo regime's "extreme callousness with regard the people's economic plight".

"There is bound to be more concerted efforts among the different sectors to kick out Arroyo from Malacanang. The Filipino people have had enough of Arroyo," Rosal stressed. He added that the "oppressed masses of workers and peasants are continually being drawn to tread the path of revolution."

Reference:
Anne Buenaventura
Media Officer
Cellphone Number: +63910-240-3553

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Arroyo inciting people to revolt through bigger taxes, higher power rates April 23, 2005

Arroyo inciting people to revolt through bigger taxes, higher power rates
April 23, 2005