PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has yet to appoint someone to replace Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) chief Sixto Esquivias who resigned for falling short in meeting tax collection target for the past months.

Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Tuesday that BIR’s Senior Deputy Commissioner Joel Tan-Torres will act as the bureau’s officer-in charge for the meantime.

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“In the meantime, the President has designated Mr. Tan Torres, a veteran BIR official, as officer-in-charge of the BIR pending the appointment of a regular commissioner,” he said.

Remonde meanwhile wished Esquivias luck for his future endeavors, saying that his service to the government was well appreciated.

“We appreciate his delicadeza,” he added.

In a separate interview, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said Tuesday that Finance Secretary Margarito Teves will be the one who will make the recommendation to the President for Esquivias’s replacement.

Esquivias was the third commissioner who left BIR post due to failing to meet the revenue targets. (Jill Beltran/Sunnex)