Parayno to remain at BIR

Internal Revenue Commissioner Guillermo Parayno said yesterday he would remain in his post in the next seven months of the Arroyo administration despite the resignation of Finance Secretary Jose Isidro Camacho.

Parayno said he decided to remain at the BIR and in the economic team of President Arroyo after he met with Camacho and learned that the resignation of his former boss was not performance-related.

"I said I have to make a decision after I talk to the secretary. If his resignation is performance-related I’m part of his performance and I’m partly to be blamed for that. My work here (BIR) is only a component of the work of the secretary of finance. But after talking to him I didn’t have to resign," Parayno said in radio interview.

He added that he decided to remain at the BIR in the next seven months for the continuity of program of the BIR and the Department of Finance (DOF).

"On the other hand, I realized it’s not probably well-advised for any of the members of the team to follow (Camacho’s resignation) at this time. If ever we have to stay put so there’ll be continuity of programs of the department," he said.

Parayno said Camacho resigned from the Department of Finance to return to the private sector.

"He was planning to resign since early this year because he wants to return to the private sector. He said our job is unending. At some point in time, you will really get burned out and you have to pass on the responsibility to somebody. But I can’t say that to myself because I’m in the BIR for one year only," he said.

Camacho and Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin reportedly recommended to the President to appoint a new GSIS president to replace Winston Garcia because of his mismanagement of the crucial organization and the apparent failure of the computerization project that resulted in the suspension of loans and other claims of its members since May.

"I’m not familiar with that issue. I don’t know if it’s one reason for his resignation," he said. – Pia Lee Brago