Parayno hasn’t been appointed yet - Bunye

Malacañang has not yet confirmed if former Customs commissioner Guillermo Parayno would be the next chief of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye refused to tell reporters yesterday whether President Arroyo had issued any official appointment for Parayno.

"I wish I could give you new developments but... we have nothing to announce at this time," he said. "We know that (Parayno) is a strong contender and this matter is still being discussed with Finance Secretary Lito Camacho."

Last Sunday, Parayno reportedly accepted the post of BIR commissioner after more than a week of convincing

Finance Secretary Jose Isidro Camacho said yesterday the new BIR commissioner would be announced tomorrow during a meeting of the agency’s revenue district officers.

Earlier, Bunye said Parayno was among the top three nominees to become BIR commissioner.

The other two are: Social Security Administrator Corazon de la Paz and the acting BIR commissioner, Finance Undersecretary Cornelio Gison.

The post became vacant last Aug. 19 after BIR Commissioner Rene Bañez resigned.

Meanwhile, industry leaders said they hope the former Army colonel would be able to clean up the notoriously corrupt tax-collecting agency.

Donald Dee, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said Parayno’s skills make him suitable to head the BIR.

"As a friend, I wish him well if he accepts the position," he said.

Dee said the business sector would fully support Parayno in the difficult job of increasing the government’s revenue collection.

Parayno’s performance at the Bureau of Customs has accorded him a track record of competence, Dee added.

However, industry leaders said the biggest problem of Parayno is pushing the plan to transform the BIR into a quasi-corporate agency to be known as the Internal Revenue Management Agency (IRMA).– Marichu Villanueva, Des Ferriols