Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto expressed his gratitude to former Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui, Jr. for his exemplary service to the Filipino people and welcomed former Department of Finance (DOF) Undersecretary Charlito R. Mendoza as the new head of the country’s main revenue agency.
“I thank Commissioner Jun for being a great partner and a fearless leader in our shared effort to ensure a reliable revenue flow for our people and to reform the tax system. Under his leadership, we have seen a stronger and more credible BIR. Nagpapasalamat ako sa kaniyang mahusay at tapat na paglilingkod sa sambayanang Pilipino,” the Finance Chief said.
“Rest assured, the BIR is in good hands as Commissioner Charlie will uphold the same integrity and excellence he has exemplified,” he added.
Appointed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in November 2022, Lumagui led the BIR to consistently exceed its revenue targets, fueling the nation’s growth.
In 2024 alone, BIR collections rose by 13.29% to PHP 2.85 trillion. BIR collections for January to September 2025 also rose by 10.88% year-on-year (YoY), amounting to PHP 2.32 trillion.
During his tenure, Lumagui championed the BIR’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.
To strengthen enforcement activities, Lumagui 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.
He likewise intensified the Bureau’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.
Building on this strong foundation, Secretary Recto extended his confidence to new BIR Commissioner Mendoza, describing him as a “steady hand and reform-driven leader.”
“We will miss Usec Charlie at the DOF, but I believe the BIR needs him more at this time. I trust that under his leadership, the BIR will meet and even exceed our revenue targets. Above all, I trust that he will always keep the well-being of our taxpayers at the heart of all his efforts,” Secretary Recto said.
As DOF Undersecretary for the Revenue Operations Group since April 2024, Commissioner Mendoza led the BRAVE campaign to put an end to smuggling and illicit trade, with digitalization playing a central role.
BRAVE stands for Border Security Enhancement, Revenue Collection and Revenue-Base Protection, Adaptive Regulations and Compliance Monitoring, Vigilant Enforcement Operations and Vigorous Intelligence Gathering Activities, and Effective Engagement with Stakeholders and Inter-Agency Cooperation.
With BRAVE in place, the DOF exceeded its revenue collection target in 2024, reaching PHP 4.42 trillion or equivalent to 16.7% of GDP, the highest in 27 years.
Prior to his appointment in DOF, Commissioner Mendoza served as District Collector for the BOC Port of Cebu from July 2019 to October 2022, where it was able to achieve significant milestones in revenue collections and border protection.
It was also during his term as District Collector that the Port of Cebu became the first customs collection district to have its main port and all subports ISO 9001:2015 certified.
Commissioner Mendoza also held positions such as founding partner of the Palafox Patriarca Romero and Mendoza Law Firm and associate lawyer at the Angara Abello Concepcion Regala and Cruz Law Offices (ACCRALAW) and the Suarez and Narvasa Law Firm. He also taught law in several universities.
Commissioner Mendoza earned his Bachelor of Laws degree from San Beda University and ranked third in the 2004 Philippine Bar Exam.
