BIR chief Lumagui Jr. submits courtesy resignation

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. announced on Friday that he has tendered his courtesy resignation to give President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. the opportunity to assess his performance.

In a statement shared on social media, Lumagui expressed his full support for the President’s emphasis on accountability in public service.

“This call for accountability shows the commitment of the President to establish a government that serves the people,” Lumagui said.

He further explained, “As such, I am tendering my courtesy resignation as the Commissioner of Internal Revenue in order to give the Chief Executive a free hand in evaluating my performance in pursuit of further improving public service under the Administration.”

Lumagui also conveyed his gratitude to the President for appointing him as BIR Commissioner in November 2022.

Meanwhile, as of Friday, President Marcos has retained Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and key members of his economic team, including Trade Secretary Maria Cristina Roque, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman, Economic Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, and Special Assistant for Investments and Economic Affairs Frederick Go.

In other government reshuffles, veteran diplomat Ma. Theresa Lazaro was appointed to lead the Department of Foreign Affairs, while former Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo will take over as the Philippines’ permanent representative to the United Nations, replacing Antonio Manuel Lagdameo, who has expressed his intention to retire.

Department of Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla will be reassigned to head the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The current DENR Secretary, Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga, “will rest for now and may be given a Cabinet post in the future,” according to Executive Secretary Bersamin.

Additionally, Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar will now serve as Presidential Adviser for Pasig River Development, with engineer Ramon Aliling, a former undersecretary in the agency, succeeding him as the department secretary.