It was a shortlived "victory" afterall. This concerns only the toll fees, not the VAT tax that gov't is trying to impose...

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquire...SLEx-toll-hike

By Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:34:00 10/22/2010

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court Thursday lifted the temporary restraining order (TRO) it issued on the toll increase at the South Luzon Tollway (SLT) last August, paving the way for a possible 250 percent increase in toll rates.

In a 75-page decision obtained by the Inquirer, 12 of the magistrates concurred with the decision written by Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco declaring as constitutional the Supplemental Toll Operation Agreement (STOA) covering the Luzon Tollway Project of South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) and the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) resolutions allowing toll rate increases that were supposed to have been implemented on June 30, 2010.

Still, the high tribunal said: “The challenge contained in the Supplemental Petition [filed by lawyers Ernesto Francisco and Jose Hizon against the TRB] against the toll rates subject of the TRB notice of Toll Rates published on June 6, 2010, for the SLEx projects, Toll Road Projects 1 and 2 of the new SLTC (South Luzon Tollway Corp.) STOA and the expanded and rehabilitated SLEx, is remanded to the TRB for a review of the assailed toll rates to determine whether SLTC and MATES (Manila Toll Expressway Systems, Inc.) are entitled to toll fees.”

The high court also declared as valid and constitutional the provisional toll rate increases published on Feb. 29, 2005, granted by the TRB.

However, the high tribunal declared as void and unconstitutional for being contrary to provisions of the Constitution the clause in the STOA that includes, “if necessary, an extension of the concession period which in no case shall exceed a maximum period of 50 years.”