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New govt taxman to come from BIR: Ermita

abs-cbnNEWS.com | 10/10/2008 3:31 PM

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A former official of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is being tapped to replace resigned BIR Commissioner Lilian Hefti, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Friday. He said, however, that he could not yet disclose the name of the replacement.

“Meron nang napili si Pangulo pero hindi pa natin ma- announce in deference to [Finance Secretary] Gary Teves [who is abroad now]. After he has spoken with Hefti and the probable replacement then the go signal will be given to announce the replacement," he said in an interview.

Ermita said the replacement is neither a political appointee nor a losing senatorial candidate. Rather, he mentioned that he came from the ranks and has the much-needed experience such a position requires.

"You can be sure that he is also, if not from the ranks of BIR now, he came from the BIR before. In other words he is not just another political appointee. He is a technical person. He also came from the ranks. Kagaya ko, former military official. Ganun din siya, former BIR official,” he said.

Ermita assured that efforts to meet collection targets will not be disrupted.

"You can be very sure there will be no disruptment, or the proper collection of our taxes will not be disrupted," Ermita said.

Commissioner Lilian Hefti of the Bureau of Internal Revenue has resigned from her post after a year in office, Malacañang announced Friday.

In a text message to reporters, Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez said Hefti had submitted her resignation letter to President Arroyo several days ago. He said Hefti cited "health reasons" for her resignation. 

"President Arroyo has already made her choice as to Hefti's replacement but the announcement will be upon the arrival of Finance Secretary Margarito Teves tomorrow (Saturday)," Golez said. Teves is currently in the United States.

News of Hefti's resignation came a day after the resignation of Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Sergio Apostol. Apostol said he will return to the private sector while preparing for his candidacy in 2010.

The Philippines posted a lower-than-forecast budget deficit of 18 billion pesos (about 379 million dollars) in the first half, when revenues grew 11.7 percent to 570 billion pesos, 1.5 percent above target, while spending rose 6.7 percent to 588 billion pesos, or 2.4 percent below the ceiling set by the government. Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News

as of 10/11/2008 10:21 AM