Romeo Lumagui: Beyond taxes

Whether it's a selfie, an autograph or a video greeting the country's top taxman willingly obliges as he tries to bring the difficult yet necessary concept of tax closer to Filipinos.

- LOUISE MAUREEN SIMEON

There is a running joke that in every administration, only one or two government officials will have a more appealing look that would often pique the public's interest beyond their official job description.

Such may be the case for tax lawyer and Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Romeo "Jun" Lumagui Jr. who admitted that more people have been asking for selfies during events, something that he does not mind at all.

"Before I became commissioner, I'm a very private person. But I guess, it comes with the territory. You accept the fact that once you're appointed, you're already a public figure," Lumagui said.

"I also want to show the public that I'm accommodating because that also reflects on the agency," he said.

After passing the Bar examinations and ranking 19th in 2006, Lumagui worked in private law firms for 10 years before transferring to government service in 2016.

He first served as technical assistant to the BIR commissioner before being designated as tax fraud head for several regions. He was also deputy commissioner prior to assuming the top post in November 2022.

It's probably true that many privateturned-public workers were looking for a deeper meaning or even a greater calling in their life as they let go of a normal routine in exchange for a more challenging yet fulfilling job.

Lumagui is no exception as he looks at his work in a different light, considering how critical it is to generate the majority of revenues and taxes that serve as the lifeblood of the nation - no matter how cliche it might seem.

Having worked at the BIR since the Duterte administration, Lumagui saw how the agency operated - the good, the bad and the ugly.

This is also the reason why it was an easy "yes" for Lumagui when President Marcos, who happens to be his godfather in his wedding in 2019, asked him to be the BIR chief.