Comments on: The Long View: The perils of loyal opposition http://www.quezon.ph/2009/05/21/the-long-view-the-perils-of-loyal-opposition/ Punditry. Politics. History. Commentary. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 11:35:33 +0000 hourly 1 By: What are you doing on Sunday? « Random Salt http://www.quezon.ph/2009/05/21/the-long-view-the-perils-of-loyal-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-1073371 What are you doing on Sunday? « Random Salt Mon, 21 Dec 2009 12:52:01 +0000 http://www.quezon.ph/?p=2802#comment-1073371 [...] a comment » Excerpted from “The perils of loyal oppositon” by Manuel L. Quezon III [my emphasis]: Writers are up in arms; educators are up in arms; [...] [...] a comment » Excerpted from “The perils of loyal oppositon” by Manuel L. Quezon III [my emphasis]: Writers are up in arms; educators are up in arms; [...]

]]> By: Joanna http://www.quezon.ph/2009/05/21/the-long-view-the-perils-of-loyal-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-1045450 Joanna Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:50:54 +0000 http://www.quezon.ph/?p=2802#comment-1045450 Thank you for your immediate response.Btw,I want to inform you that they have already released the books to me without paying anything aside from the postal handling fee. However,I want some clarification on the matter because I would like pursue it with proper authorities to make them aware. Because I believe that the officer only released my books to me without charge because I came prepared and informed and was thoroughly questioning his every explanation for about an hour. :-) I am further pursuing this case because I am alarmed and I pity other citizens who are not as inqusitive or knowledgeable on the topic. When I went to the post office this afternoon,I came prepared with printouts of the directive from the Department of Finance website regarding the suspension of DO 17-09 as well as the clipping from www.gov.ph wherein it stated that the order came from Pres Macapagal-Arroyo herself.However,the customs officer told me that he didn't know of the latest directive yet and proceeded to call fellow collectors in Makati and Manila, the latter of whom then told me that only donated books are covered by the directive and I still need to get a letter from UNESCO as well as apply for the exemption in the Tax Exemption Division of the Bureau of Customs.At that point I was so frustrated that I planned to just pay whatever I have to pay so that he would release the books and that I would then forward my complaint with the proper authorities using the official receipt as proof.Then on the computation,he used the total amount of my purchase,including the shipping fee charged by the USPS w/c I already paid thru the internet, converted it to peso based on the exchange rate in a newspaper and then multiplied it w/ 15% w/c is supposedly the imposed tax as well as a couple other additional charges that were not explained.Even though it is already a moot issue in my case, I just want to know the ff: 1)is the shipping fee of the USPS really included in the amount taxable by the Customs?From what I understood in the Tariffs and Customs Law,only goods or articles are subject to duties.Does that include payment for sending the package here? 2)why is the officer charging me 15%? lets just suppose that the DO 17-09 was not suspended, shouldn't he be imposing a 1-5% tax only? It is sad that we have to question our own civil servants and fellow Filipinos but I would like to be enlightened on the matter because as my friend pointed out, the directive was just suspended not eradicated. Thank you for your time.I hope you weren't bothered much by my questions. Thank you for your immediate response.Btw,I want to inform you that they have already released the books to me without paying anything aside from the postal handling fee. However,I want some clarification on the matter because I would like pursue it with proper authorities to make them aware. Because I believe that the officer only released my books to me without charge because I came prepared and informed and was thoroughly questioning his every explanation for about an hour. :-) I am further pursuing this case because I am alarmed and I pity other citizens who are not as inqusitive or knowledgeable on the topic.
When I went to the post office this afternoon,I came prepared with printouts of the directive from the Department of Finance website regarding the suspension of DO 17-09 as well as the clipping from http://www.gov.ph wherein it stated that the order came from Pres Macapagal-Arroyo herself.However,the customs officer told me that he didn’t know of the latest directive yet and proceeded to call fellow collectors in Makati and Manila, the latter of whom then told me that only donated books are covered by the directive and I still need to get a letter from UNESCO as well as apply for the exemption in the Tax Exemption Division of the Bureau of Customs.At that point I was so frustrated that I planned to just pay whatever I have to pay so that he would release the books and that I would then forward my complaint with the proper authorities using the official receipt as proof.Then on the computation,he used the total amount of my purchase,including the shipping fee charged by the USPS w/c I already paid thru the internet, converted it to peso based on the exchange rate in a newspaper and then multiplied it w/ 15% w/c is supposedly the imposed tax as well as a couple other additional charges that were not explained.Even though it is already a moot issue in my case, I just want to know the ff: 1)is the shipping fee of the USPS really included in the amount taxable by the Customs?From what I understood in the Tariffs and Customs Law,only goods or articles are subject to duties.Does that include payment for sending the package here? 2)why is the officer charging me 15%? lets just suppose that the DO 17-09 was not suspended, shouldn’t he be imposing a 1-5% tax only? It is sad that we have to question our own civil servants and fellow Filipinos but I would like to be enlightened on the matter because as my friend pointed out, the directive was just suspended not eradicated. Thank you for your time.I hope you weren’t bothered much by my questions.

]]> By: mlq3 http://www.quezon.ph/2009/05/21/the-long-view-the-perils-of-loyal-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-1045442 mlq3 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 10:01:50 +0000 http://www.quezon.ph/?p=2802#comment-1045442 Joanna, you are not supposed to pay anything at all! The only valid fee is a postal handling fee. They cannot charge you any import duties whatsoever. Not 1%, not 5%, all books, whether you bought them or will resell them or anything, are exempt from all customs duties. Joanna, you are not supposed to pay anything at all! The only valid fee is a postal handling fee. They cannot charge you any import duties whatsoever. Not 1%, not 5%, all books, whether you bought them or will resell them or anything, are exempt from all customs duties.

]]> By: Joanna http://www.quezon.ph/2009/05/21/the-long-view-the-perils-of-loyal-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-1045441 Joanna Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:55:12 +0000 http://www.quezon.ph/?p=2802#comment-1045441 Sir,I just came across your website today because I was researching on the tariffs and customs code for imported books. You see about 2 weeks ago,I ordered 3 used books in the US thru the internet after failing to find it in all the bookstores in the Philippines.So anyway,it was shipped as parcel via regular mail and I received a note from the post office informing me that my package has already arrived but may be subject to customs fee.To get to the point,the customs officer told me that the books are subject to tax depending on what "bracket" it falls to,meaning the total cost.I did some research and found out that taxes on imported books were scrapped out but he told me that this only applies to books donated.Aside from that he included the amount paid to the US postal service for the shipping in the total amount to be subjected to customs tax.Also,based in his computation,I was supposed to pay 15% of the total cost of the books plus shipping,aside from a couple of other miscellaneous fees.But from what I researched and understood,aren't you supposed to pay 1% only, and of the price of the goods only at that? Sorry for the long explanation, I don't have a background in Law and would greatly appreciate any help or explanation on the matter.Thank you. Sir,I just came across your website today because I was researching on the tariffs and customs code for imported books.
You see about 2 weeks ago,I ordered 3 used books in the US thru the internet after failing to find it in all the bookstores in the Philippines.So anyway,it was shipped as parcel via regular mail and I received a note from the post office informing me that my package has already arrived but may be subject to customs fee.To get to the point,the customs officer told me that the books are subject to tax depending on what “bracket” it falls to,meaning the total cost.I did some research and found out that taxes on imported books were scrapped out but he told me that this only applies to books donated.Aside from that he included the amount paid to the US postal service for the shipping in the total amount to be subjected to customs tax.Also,based in his computation,I was supposed to pay 15% of the total cost of the books plus shipping,aside from a couple of other miscellaneous fees.But from what I researched and understood,aren’t you supposed to pay 1% only, and of the price of the goods only at that? Sorry for the long explanation, I don’t have a background in Law and would greatly appreciate any help or explanation on the matter.Thank you.

]]> By: rego http://www.quezon.ph/2009/05/21/the-long-view-the-perils-of-loyal-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-1044086 rego Fri, 22 May 2009 01:21:26 +0000 http://www.quezon.ph/?p=2802#comment-1044086 question: is "mutation or mutilation" of the law legal? why wait for the president to reverse it? how about going to SC? question: is “mutation or mutilation” of the law legal? why wait for the president to reverse it? how about going to SC?

]]> By: d0d0ng http://www.quezon.ph/2009/05/21/the-long-view-the-perils-of-loyal-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-1044051 d0d0ng Thu, 21 May 2009 18:33:52 +0000 http://www.quezon.ph/?p=2802#comment-1044051 The only thing common here is money. Ladies and gentlemen, the President is not likely to reduce the 12% VAT against popular opinion. Nor, she would reverse DOF's mutilation of the treaty. This is where the application of principle that once given, it is hard to take it back. If there is any indication how hard this is, it is the word of the government official saying "go to court" or "let legislature amend the law". The only thing common here is money.

Ladies and gentlemen, the President is not likely to reduce the 12% VAT against popular opinion. Nor, she would reverse DOF’s mutilation of the treaty.

This is where the application of principle that once given, it is hard to take it back.

If there is any indication how hard this is, it is the word of the government official saying “go to court” or “let legislature amend the law”.

]]> By: ramrod http://www.quezon.ph/2009/05/21/the-long-view-the-perils-of-loyal-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-1044017 ramrod Thu, 21 May 2009 09:24:52 +0000 http://www.quezon.ph/?p=2802#comment-1044017 Protecting local paper, publishing, and printing industry is one thing but this is ridiculous. A better alternative would be to open up to new technologies, upgrade local capabilities and compete with foreign printers for these imported books. The government is behaving like the proverbial ostrich hiding its head underground...anyhow, I don't believe revenue from taxing these books are that substantial. They should look into "smuggling"of high value items instead. Protecting local paper, publishing, and printing industry is one thing but this is ridiculous. A better alternative would be to open up to new technologies, upgrade local capabilities and compete with foreign printers for these imported books. The government is behaving like the proverbial ostrich hiding its head underground…anyhow, I don’t believe revenue from taxing these books are that substantial. They should look into “smuggling”of high value items instead.

]]> By: Tamoulz http://www.quezon.ph/2009/05/21/the-long-view-the-perils-of-loyal-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-1044000 Tamoulz Thu, 21 May 2009 07:01:50 +0000 http://www.quezon.ph/?p=2802#comment-1044000 I truly agree, excuse my early mischief... thanks for your honest take. I truly agree, excuse my early mischief… thanks for your honest take.

]]> By: mlq3 http://www.quezon.ph/2009/05/21/the-long-view-the-perils-of-loyal-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-1043998 mlq3 Thu, 21 May 2009 06:38:47 +0000 http://www.quezon.ph/?p=2802#comment-1043998 tamoulz, that it vindicates machiavelli's opinion that the appearance of virtue is more important than virtue itself. tamoulz, that it vindicates machiavelli’s opinion that the appearance of virtue is more important than virtue itself.

]]> By: Tamoulz http://www.quezon.ph/2009/05/21/the-long-view-the-perils-of-loyal-opposition/comment-page-1/#comment-1043997 Tamoulz Thu, 21 May 2009 06:32:34 +0000 http://www.quezon.ph/?p=2802#comment-1043997 Ah, Manolo... what's your personal take on the ever-buzzing Hayden Kho fiasco? Ah, Manolo… what’s your personal take on the ever-buzzing Hayden Kho fiasco?

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