President Bongbong Marcos has appointed Finance Undersecretary Charlito Martin Mendoza as the new commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), replacing Romeo Lumagui Jr., who led the agency for three years.
Presidential Communications Office Acting Secretary Dave Gomez confirmed Mendoza’s appointment on Wednesday but did not disclose the reason for Lumagui’s exit.
Before assuming his new post, Mendoza served as undersecretary for the Revenue Operations Group (ROG) under the Department of Finance overseeing both the BIR and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to help the government meet its annual collection targets.
From July 2019 to October 2022, Mendoza worked as district collector for the BOC Port of Cebu, where he led record-breaking revenue collection and major border protection milestones. Under his leadership, the Port of Cebu became the first customs collection district whose main port and all subports were ISO 9001:2015 certified.
Before joining government service, Mendoza built a successful legal career as a founding partner of the Palafox Patriarca Romero and Mendoza Law Firm and previously worked with top firms such as ACCRALAW and Suarez and Narvasa Law Office. He also taught law and pre-bar review courses as a professor and lecturer.
Mendoza ranked third in the 2004 Philippine Bar Exam after earning his Bachelor of Laws degree from San Beda University. He is also a licensed Geodetic Engineer, holding a degree in Geodetic Engineering from the University of the Philippines.
