Ombudsman Remulla flags BIR over taxation, abuse concerns

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Saturday flagged alleged abuses within the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), saying business leaders have raised concerns over taxation and permit processing.

Speaking on his radio program on dzRH, Remulla discussed efforts to revive the investment ombudsman and shared concerns raised by business leaders during his conversations with them.

“Ang isang pinaka-malaking problema natin ngayon BIR… talagang ina-ano nila, para silang kasosyo talaga. Yung republika, may utang sa kanila palagi, yung nga taga-BIR,” Remulla said.

(One of our biggest problems right now is the BIR… they really, they are like an enterprise. The republic always owes them something, those in the BIR.)

“May nangyayari diyan, yung 70-30: 70 sa BIR, 30 sa bayan,” he added.

(What is happening there is a 70-30: 70 for the BIR, 30 for the nation.)

Remulla, however, did not elaborate on his 70-30 claim.

The Ombudsman also raised concerns over the alleged abuse of Letters of Authority (LOAs).

GMA News Online has reached out to the BIR for comment and will update this story once a response is received.

In November 2025, the BIR suspended the issuance of LOAs following allegations that the documents were being used in money-making schemes. A technical working group was also formed to spearhead reforms in the system. —VBL, GMA News