BIR chief goes on leave

MANILA, Philippines - Only about two months in office, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Caesar Dulay has gone on leave for medical reasons.

This was bared during House ways and means committee heating on pending tax reform bills on Tuesday.

"May I ask where is the commissioner?" said Nueva Ecija Rep. Estrelita Suansing.

To which, BIR Deputy Commissioner Nestor Valeroso replied: "He is currently on medical leave but we understand he will return by the end of the month."

"He underwent an operation but he is already recuperating," he added.

Suansing called the committee's attention on Dulay's apparent persistent absence on congressional hearings.

Dulay was also absent on last week's organization meeting of the committee.

Suansing then went on to ask what the operation was for, to which Valeroso responded that it might be "personal" in nature.

After prodding, the BIR official then said that Dulay had a hip operation.

Aside from Valeroso, Dulay was represented by deputy commissioners Jesus Clint Aranas, Celia King and Lanee David on Tuesday's hearing.

BIR, which accounts for about 80 percent of tax revenues, is the government's main revenue agency.

It collected P117.4 billion in July, the first month of the Duterte administration, down one percent year-on-year.

It marked the first time in seven months that collections dipped, data showed.

For the first seven months however, BIR already raised P900.9 billion, up nine percent from last year.