Pressure from various sectors continues to mount on Malacanang and Congress following earlier proposals made by President Arroyo and her finance and budget secretaries to include tax on text messaging among the administration’s revenue measures. TXTPower, a loose formation of cellular phone subscribers of all ages and classes, started a signature campaign to against the proposed tax measure. This petition is currently being circulated in schools, workplaces, marketplaces and malls nationwide.

"With the increases in prices of basic goods, fare hikes and impending increases in electricity and water rates, Filipino consumers could not bear to be oppressed further by new taxes," the petition says. TXTPower challenges the Macapagal-Arroyo government to curb corruption, stop unproductive spending, improve revenue collection, prosecute tax evaders, seize properties of tax evaders, impose taxes on luxury purchases of the elite and cut down billions of pesos worth of tax perks offered to big companies. Moreover, the group urges the IMF, a strong advocate of the tax, to refrain from meddling in our internal affairs.

Related articles:
> Fight the Text Tax!
> Students Sign Up vs Text Tax
> TXTers, Revolt!
> Texters to Join Taxpayers' Revolt over New Revenue Measures

Quezon City, Philippines (Indymedia QC) -- Ronald Ian Evidente, 25 years old, was arrested on April 21, 2004 at 4 pm by police officers in civilian clothes in Dumaguete, Negros Island. The warrant of arrest accused Ian of the crime of murder, a non-bailable offense, but failed to mention who Ian allegedly murdered. He also never knew nor met the co-accused in the warrant.

The arrest of Ian, a well-known youth leader, is undoubtedly politically motivated as it comes in the midst of an orchestrated campaign to discredit progressive political groups. Ian is the 5th nominee of Anak ng Bayan, a progressive partylist of youth and students vying for congress seats in the coming May 10, 2004 elections. He is also the Regional Vice Chairperson of BAYAN-Negros Island.

Progressive groups, including BAYAN and BAYAN MUNA, have denounced the arrest and called for Ian's immediate release.