MANILA, Philippines — Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar Dulay has apologized to the House of Representatives for skipping the hearing last week on the proposed BIR budget for next year.
In a letter to Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Sept. 29, Dulay asked for forgiveness from the House leadership for his absence due to “misapprehension” of the rules of Congress.
Dulay sent a separate letter to Minority Leader Benny Abante, who questioned his absence and demanded an apology during the hearing.
Dulay said he sent his deputy commissioner and two assistant commissioners to answer questions from congressmen during budget deliberations.
“I believed that they are capable in providing whatever data is needed from the BIR. I was of the impression, albeit mistakenly, that my physical presence was not required but unfortunately my absence prompted Congressman Abante, as I was told, to move to defer the approval of the BIR budget,” Dulay said.
“I apologize for my own misapprehension of the strict standards demanded by the House. I assure you that I meant no disrespect to the body in any way,” he added.
The House has deferred the deliberations on the proposed BIR budget for 2021 due to Dulay’s absence.
The chamber finished discussions on the proposed budget of the Department of Finance (DOF) and its attached agencies for next year, except BIR.
During the deliberations, Abante looked for Dulay in the plenary.
Sultan Kudarat Rep. Horacio Suansing Jr., who sponsored the DOF’s budget, said the BIR chief was not able to attend due to health reasons.
Suansing said Dulay was “immuno-compromised.”
Abante said Dulay must present his “bill of health” and should have attended the hearing online.