Recto urges GMA to persuade finance official to stay

Sen. Ralph Recto urged President Arroyo yesterday to prevail upon Finance Undersecretary Emmanuel Bonoan to stay in government in view of his accomplishments against tax evaders.

Recto made the recommendation following reports that Bonoan had tendered his irrevocable resignation, citing health reasons.

"Noel Bonoan is one guy government shouldn’t let go. There are enough offices in the government which are in need of his services," Recto said.

He suggested that Bonoan be given a senior position at the Office of the Ombudsman in charge of the revenue agencies.

Bonoan is head of the DOF’s Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS) and the Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program, which has led to the filing of over 20 tax evasion cases against various prominent personalities, including one member of the Arroyo Cabinet.

Recto expressed belief that Bonoan could act as a "big brother" to tax-collecting officials.

"I think the President should appoint him as some sort of a deputy Ombudsman for revenue agencies. There will be no learning curve for him because being a public watchdog will just be a continuation of what he had done in DOF, which was to run after the corrupt," the lawmaker explained.

Recto, chairman of the Senate committee on ways and means, previously worked with Bonoan on the passage of vital tax measures in Congress.

On Friday, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves confirmed to Palace officials Bonoan’s resignation.

In his resignation letter, Bonoan said his workload had caused him health problems that made it untenable for him to continue working at the DOF.

However, Bonoan has hinted there were deeper reasons other than the health issue he indicated in his resignation letter that had prompted his resignation.

Bonoan said he reached a "turning point" last July and had been trying to resign since. — Marvin Sy