MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino denied that Batangas Rep. Hermilando Mandanas was stripped of the chairmanship of the ways and means committee for not signing the impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Renato Corona.
 
Aquino said Mandanas was removed for not supporting the position of the coalition on a number of issues.
 
“It has nothing to do with the impeachment… It has all to do with his being chairman of a committee on ways and means and adopting a position not supported by anybody else,” Aquino told reporters after the signing of the 2012 budget in Malacañang.
 
The President said the administration does not agree with Mandanas’ position that the VAT on imports collected by the Customs be included in the local government’s internal revenue allotment or IRA.

He said Mandanas also does not support the plan of the administration to reform sin taxes.
 
“Bottom line, hindi niya isinusulong ‘yung gusto ‘nung coalition. So bakit ka mamumuno ng isang committee kung… hiwalay ka doon sa pananaw ng nakakarami. ‘Yun lang ‘yung point ‘non. Walang koneksyon ito doon sa impeachment,” Aquino said. 
 
“Ayaw niyang sumang-ayon, e ‘di pasensyahan tayo. You do not own that position by virtue of being elected to Congress. You owe the position by virtue of the fact that you’re part of the majority coalition that seeks to have chairmen who are representative of their views,” he added.