The so-called Makabayan bloc led by minority members of the House of Representatives is set to question before the Supreme Court a tax reform bill that lawmakers have just ratified.
Bayan Muna Party-list Representative Carlos Zarate says, they will question the ratification of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) bill which the chamber ratified last Wednesday.
Zarate explains, the reconciled final version of the measure, which was drafted by senators and House members during the Bicameral Conference Committee, was not provided to the House members before it was approved for third reading during the plenary session.
He adds, there was no quorum during the final approval of the measure.
He recalls, only 6 lawmakers were remaining in the session hall when the bill was taken up.
Zarate describes the proceeding as a 'phantom ratification' of the measure.
The TRAIN bill is the first tax reform package of the Duterte administration that is meant to fund its 'Build Build Build Program' in the next 5 years.
It will cut the personal income tax rate, hike the excise tax on petroleum products, vehicles, sugar-sweetened beverages and tobacco.
The measure will also extend the coverage of the value-added tax (VAT).
President Rodrigo Duterte is set to sign the bill into law once the final version reaches Malacañang.
