Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo D. Lumagui Jr. has been recognized by Top News Asia magazine as one of its “Men of the Year.”
Commissioner Lumagui graces the cover of the magazine’s April 2025 issue alongside other prominent government officials. This honor comes on the heels of the significant success of the BIR’s Run After Fake Transactions (RAFT) task force, the agency’s nationwide initiative targeting the proliferation of ghost receipts, which was also highlighted in a separate feature article within the publication.
Expressing his gratitude, Commissioner Lumagui stated, “The BIR is deeply appreciative of this recognition from Top News Asia magazine. This honor truly belongs to the dedicated men and women of the BIR. By adhering to our principles of good governance, we remain steadfast in achieving our objectives. Our nationwide crackdown on ghost receipts is of particular importance. The era of large corporations utilizing fabricated receipts in their tax returns is over. As Top News Asia magazine aptly noted, this marks a turning point for corporate accountability.”
The BIR’s determined campaign against the use of ghost receipts, spearheaded by the RAFT Task Force, has been a cornerstone of the agency’s achievements under Commissioner Lumagui’s leadership. Established in 2023, the task force played a pivotal role in the BIR meeting its 2024 collection target – a milestone achieved for the first time in two decades.
This success can be largely attributed to the heightened tax compliance among corporations, driven by the deterrent effect of the RAFT Task Force. The fear of BIR audits and the potential filing of criminal tax evasion cases has significantly discouraged the use of ghost receipts.
Recent weeks have seen the Department of Justice (DOJ) rule favorably in cases filed by the BIR against entities utilizing ghost receipts. These cases have progressed to the courts, with warrants of arrest expected to be issued for the responsible corporate officers. Notably, a major government contractor and a large cosmetic company have already been formally charged, and warrants for their arrest are anticipated imminently due to their involvement with ghost receipts.
Commissioner Lumagui emphasized the broader implications of this campaign, stating, “The BIR’s relentless pursuit against ghost receipts will establish a new standard for corporate accountability and financial integrity. The BIR has demonstrated its commitment to imprisoning corporate executives of major businesses involved in ghost receipts, and we will continue this unwavering stance. This is no longer simply a matter of audit; it is now a matter of potential imprisonment.
