40 Richest Filipinos Are the Biggest Winners of Aquino’s Pro-Rich Policies — GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus

“Read the latest list of Forbes magazine’s 40 richest Filipinos and you will meet the very few families who gained a great deal from Aquino’s pro-rich policies in his two years of power in Malacañang,” commented GWP Representative Emmi De Jesus.

“The President Aquino continues to neglect the demands of poor Filipinos for substantial policy changes such as a genuine agrarian reform program for the tillers and the development of a national industry for the workers. He likewise has turned a deaf ear for immediate relief for the poor such as the removal of VAT on basic commodities including oil and petroleum products, increase in daily wages by P125, and the delivery of adequate social services. Yet, for these very rich businessmen, he is an active partner in furthering their economic winnings,” added the Gabriela solon.

“Aquino remained silent over the continuing demolitions in the Bgy. San Roque which will favor the Ayala family’s business interests. He failed to act over the death of Arnel Leonor, a resident of Silverio Compound in Paranaque, over the property which Henry Sy’s conglomerate was interested in. He continues to allow tycoon Lucio Tan to escape charges of tax evasion amid his “daang matuwid” rhetorics,” Rep. Emmi pointed out.

“The Aquino administration’s economic program failed to benefit the majority of Filipinos who are very poor because of its refusal to address long-term solutions to the country’s economic woes that will benefit the poor. What he offers the poor instead, are the monstrous bits of CCT crumbs that he deceptively markets as the ultimate solution to poverty. Amidst this scenario, the poor has much to gain in rejecting the illusions painted by Aquino’s propagandists, waking up to the realities of the Aquino administration’s policy failures, and in asserting their claim to social justice,” ended De Jesus.###