Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 6) — Do not be so sad about being taxed, President Rodrigo Duterte said Wednesday.

"Do not be so sad about being taxed because your money here during my term is safe. I will not allow corruption. I have fired so many Cabinet members for just an infraction," he said.

The President made the remark a day after he approved the recommendation of the country's economic managers to push through with the additional excise tax on fuel products on January 1, 2019.

The ₱2 additional levy are mandated under the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, which has been blamed for the rise in prices of goods in the Philippines. A provision in the law, however, allows for the suspension of the tax increase should the global oil price average at least $80 per barrel in three months before the next scheduled tax hike.

Inflation eased to 6 percent in November, the first decline this year and the lowest since the 5.7 percent recorded in July.