MANILA - Minority senators will take a closer look at the fuel and sugar excise taxes in the Duterte administration's proposed tax reform bill, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said on Sunday.

Drilon, in a radio interview, said they are not keen on approving the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) bill "hook, line and sinker" despite President Duterte's request to pass the measure "in full."

He echoed other senators' concerns that the excise tax on fuel may lead to inflation. Meanwhile, Drilon said, the excise tax on sugar was not part of the original proposal for tax reform.

He said the planned P10 per liter excise tax on sugar-sweetened drinks will affect the poor.

Drilon added that instead of imposing new taxes, the government could look at improving tax administration and plugging "leakages."

"Kung higpitan ang collection, baka maitaas ang collection nang hindi kailangan ang bagong rate," Drilon said.

The Senate is scheduled to convene as a "committee of the whole" this week and summon the country's economic managers to tackle the TRAIN bill.