Meet the new BIR chief: Mendoza the 'solution-finder'

Charlito Martin "Charlie" Mendoza, a top-ranking lawyer and licensed geodetic engineer, has been appointed by President Marcos as commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the agency responsible for over 70 percent of government revenues.

- By CHINO S. LEYCO

Mendoza's appointment is effective immediately and follows the sudden, unexpected departure of his predecessor, Romeo Lumagui Jr. Lumagui, who is reportedly close to the Marcos family and the First Lady's legal circles, stepped down despite the BIR consistently meeting its collection goals-a performance some noted was relative to a lowered target.

Under Lumagui's leadership, the BIR's annual collections rose from P2.336 trillion in 2022 to a record P2.852 trillion in 2024. From January to September 2025, the agency collected about P2.32 trillion, an 11 percent increase year-on-year, keeping it on track for its P3.219 trillion full-year target.