On Congress’ abolition, bishops, tax exemptions
I disagree with the five bishops calling for the resignation of President Aquino. He is among the very best ever elected by Juan de la Cruz. Imagine how difficult it had been in the past, even for presidents, to have senators subjected to investigations and even hauled off to jail, not to mention getting a chief justice impeached.
Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago is correct: Catholic Church institutions should not be exempt from paying taxes; the lifting of this exemption is, in fact, long overdue. Anyway, when you get confined at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital charity ward, you have to pay even if you are a senior citizen and could hardly walk due to old age. You want to complain to the rector, but he is very busy.
Government resources have been stretched thin because of the many calamities that recently visited our land. But government hospitals still offer free consultation for senior citizens. The Philippine Orthopedic Center in Quezon City offers free X-ray, and the service is fast; the doctors are very helpful, and young. The temperature in its three big X-ray rooms is cold.
Sen. Grace Poe suggested that laboratory services in all government hospitals should also be free for senior citizens. We hope Congress will pass a law to this effect, but as you know our legislators are very slow in passing laws; it takes them years to do so.
I think it would be better to abolish Congress; after all, many of its members are often abroad and most of the time absent. We are paying them doing nothing.
—ALFONSO MARCAIDA PEREZ,
West Santiago Street,
Barangay Paltok District 1,
SFDM, Quezon City
