Press statement of Senator Loren Legarda

On P1-B in smuggled cars seized in Davao

Smuggling into the country of highly taxable goods that also pose unfair competition to local producers must stop. Aside from depriving government of much-needed revenues, smuggling cuts into the market share of local industries that employ Filipinos and dutifully pay taxes.

The seizure by authorities of some P1-billion worth of second hand vehicles is thus laudable. Surely, those used vehicles would have contributed to air pollution and would have increased traffic volume on our streets had they not been seized.

Rampant smuggling worsens the state of our already lethargic economy because they result to job losses and closure of local industries.

On BSP warning of Legacy copycats

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas should do more than warn the public on the continuing dubious operation of some rural banks described by a BSP official as "copycats" of the shuttered Legacy Group.

The BSP must exercise its regulatory power to immediately close these Legacy copycats lest they victimize more people. Government must also secure their assets so that the money of defrauded depositors can be returned before the assets of these dubious rural banks are dissipated by their operators.

On Filipinos 'left' with no choice but GMA

Now we hear of a scenario in which President Arroyo is urged to declare a revolutionary government, presumably because no one is qualified to run for President in the 2010 elections.

That's as outlandish an idea as it can get because we do not lack qualified candidates for the highest office of the land. Likewise, Filipinos would have none of whatever extra-constitutional measures the administration may be considering just to stay in power past 2010.

What do they want to do? To invite the same level of protest by the people like what is now being seen in Iran?