Lumagui says he’s handing over BIR in ‘much better state’ to new tax chief

Former Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. on Thursday said he will be leaving the tax collection agency in a stronger position as he hands over its reins to its new commissioner.

In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Lumagui expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for giving him the chance to lead the BIR for the past three years.

“To say that serving the country as the Commissioner was the highest point in my career is an understatement to say the least,” he said.

Marcos has replaced Lumagui with Charlito “Charlie” Mendoza to lead the BIR, according to an appointment paper dated November 12, 2025.

Mendoza previously served as Undersecretary for the Department of Finance (DOF), overseeing its Revenue Operations Group (ROG).

Mendoza was officially sworn in as BIR chief by Marcos on Thursday, November 13.

“I am confident that I will be handing over the reins of the bureau to Commissioner Charlie Mendoza in a much better state than it was three years ago,” Lumagui said.

“It was indeed an honor and a privilege to have steered the BIR to greater heights through excellent taxpayer services, digitalization, professionalism and integrity of the institution and its employees, and aggressive and fearless enforcement activities,” he added.

Earlier, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said that the BIR will be in “good hands” under Mendoza’s leadership as he touted the taxman’s achievement under Lumagui’s leadership such as consistently exceeding its revenue targets.

In 2024 alone, the BIR’s collections grew 13.29% to P2.85 trillion. As of January to September 2025, the taxman’s revenues rose by 10.88% year-on-year to P2.32 trillion.

Recto noted that Lumagui, during his stint at the BIR, had championed the taxman’s Digital Transformation (DX) Program, which modernized tax administration, streamlined processes, and strengthened taxpayer compliance. 

Among the flagship initiatives under this program is the Online Registration and Update System (ORUS), a web-based platform providing end-to-end registration and taxpayer information management.

Lumagui also spearheaded the roll-out of the Run After Fake Transactions (RAFT) drive, where he filed civil, criminal, and administrative cases against sellers, users, and professionals involved in the sale and use of ghost receipts.

Lumagui likewise intensified the BIR’s crackdown on the illicit trade of excisable goods such as cigarettes and vapes, further safeguarding government revenues and ensuring a fair and level playing field for legitimate businesses.

“These improvements that we initiated and implemented translated to all-time high in collections that principally funded the President’s programs in alleviating the plight of our kababayans,” Lumagui said.

“Finally, I thank all the men and women of the bureau whose passion for public service and dedication for efficient tax collection were the integral components in bringing about a new BIR,” he added. — JMA, GMA Integrated News