Trump Wants to Remove US Citizens from the US
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Report MRT Music Mayhem: Foreign Influencer Blasted by Fed-Up Commuters
Call in the major crimes unit. -
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Report Former Senate President Franklin Drilon Voices Concerns Over Rising Cigarette Smuggling
File photo for reference only Franklin Drilon, known for authoring the Sin Tax Reform Law (RA 10351), has expressed grave concern over the increasing incidence of cigarette smuggling in the Philippines. This illegal activity not only undermines the government’s tax revenue efforts but also thwarts public health initiatives aimed at reducing smoking rates. Drilon highlighted the issue, stating, "I see it every day in television news and newspaper reports about the arrests being made by our law enforcement agencies against people engaged in the business of manufacturing and selling non-tax paid cigarettes. For me, this is very alarming." His pivotal role in passing RA 10351 in 2012 reformed excise taxation on alcohol and cigarettes, yielding a simpler structure and higher tax rates to boost government revenue. The legislation, celebrated by the anti-smoking community, led to a notable increase in tobacco tax collection—from Php33 billion in 2012 to Php72 billion in 2013—and a 17% reduction in cigarette volume. The World Health Organization's Western Pacific Regional office recognised Drilon's efforts with the Medal of Honor in 2013. However, recent data from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) paints a worrying picture. Excise tax revenues from cigarettes have seen consecutive declines, with a 9% drop in 2022, further exacerbated by a significant 23% decrease in 2023. Last year alone, revenue fell by 26%, translating to a loss of Php130 billion compared to the Php176 billion collected in 2021. Drilon articulated his concerns: "Cigarette smuggling is a big problem for the government. Firstly, it deprives the government of huge tax revenues, which can be used for various government projects and to fund PhilHealth. Secondly, it defeats our public health objective of bringing down smoking rates." In his tenure as Senator, Drilon championed anti-smoking measures, advocating for cigarette excise tax hikes and the implementation of graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging. His call to action underscores the need for stringent enforcement against smuggling to safeguard public health and ensure essential government funding. Adapted by ASEAN Now from Manila Bulletin 2025-05-14 -
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ALL VACCINES WILL KILL YOU - The evidence is overwhelming
Yep, lies upon lies... ... The bureaucrats lied and people died. They lied to subvert requirements for informed consent. They lied that the injection contents remained at the injection site in the deltoid and that the mRNA was quickly broken down and that the artificial spike protein was cleared from the body within a few days. They lied that immunosenescence would not affect vaccine effectiveness in the elderly. They lied that the shots were 95% then 80% then 60% effective and so forth. They lied that myocarditis was a mild condition that would not persist. They lied that the manufacturers had disclosed all of the ingredients to the regulators. "We know that they are lying, they know that they are lying, they even know that we know they are lying, we also know that they know we know they are lying too, they of course know that we certainly know they know we know they are lying too as well, but they are still lying." -
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Eurovision 2025! First Semifinals are here!
Well it's Eurocentric, innit? Netherlands has a good entry. -
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What Movies or TV shows are you watching (2025)
Bad Thoughts 6 episodes all out---- American Humour (Humor) ----each episode different story.....IMDB 6.5 Showcases a series of vignettes where the stories unfold in a hilariously disturbing way. .
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