By Jun Ramirez

The No. 2 man in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) who played a critical role in raising the agency’s annual tax collection at P1.8 trillion for the year, has submitted his irrevocable resignation, citing health reasons and the need to have more time with his family.

Thousands of BIR officials and employees were surprised by the sudden resignation of Revenue Deputy Commissioner for Operations Nestor S. Valeroso.

A certified public accountant (CPA) who rose from the ranks, Valeroso had served the BIR for 40 years, starting as a cash clerk and finally ending up as the bureau’s No. 2 highest official.

Valeroso was credited with initiating a string of tax enhancement measures that enabled the BIR to substantially increase its annual revenue.

Among these strategies were the benchmarking audit, “Oplan Kandado,” inventory stocktaking and tax mapping, or street-by-street inspection and listing of taxpayers.

Valeroso informed Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez last week that his resignation was effective immediately.

Actually, Valeroso left the BIR in February this year after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65 with the rank of deputy commissioner for operations.

But he was prevailed upon by Dominguez to stay put, stating: “Walang retire, retire (No retirement).”

Malacañang then appointed him presidential assistant on tax matters with the rank of deputy commissioner.

Valeroso said he is leaving the service to take a much needed rest from hectic schedules and be close to his wife and three children, who are all in Mindanao.

One of them is the incumbent mayor of Carmen, Surigao del Sur, while the two others are a doctor of medicine and a businessman.

Early this year, Valeroso received treatment at the Heart Center of the Philippines for clogged arteries.

He started working in the BIR as a cash clerk in the district office in Surigao, then rose to the posts of revenue district officer and regional director.

Source: news.mb.com.ph