Malacañang on Wednesday vowed not to let alleged corruption inside the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) go unchecked after Senate Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito revealed claims that some officials have turned letters of authority (LOA) into a lucrative racket.
Ejercito earlier alleged that certain BIR officials and regional directors were pocketing 70% of collections from LOAs—documents authorizing tax audits—while only 30% went to government coffers.
Responding to the allegation, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the matter must be investigated thoroughly.
“Dapat imbestigahan. Kung meron ganyang mga nakita, na-report, hindi dapat makalipas ’to. Pa-iimbistigahan ’to,” Castro told reporters.
Asked whether the alleged scheme had any connection to the recent removal of former BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui, Castro said: “Wala pong nasasabi sa akin kung ganyan ang dahilan.”
She also dismissed claims that the administration only acts on irregularities involving infrastructure projects.
“Lahat po ng anomalya… hindi po pwedeng tulugan ito… Kailangan investigahan kapag ka may anomalya,” she said.
Ejercito’s revelation adds to growing concerns about corruption across key government agencies, further challenging efforts to rebuild public trust amid ongoing investigations.