The Department of Finance (DOF) is moving to seal leaks in the national treasury by integrating its internal watchdog functions with primary revenue operations, signaling a more aggressive stance against systemic graft.

In a statement on Friday, March 6, Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go announced the realignments intended to ensure that every peso collected for the state is protected from illicit diversion and administrative abuse.

Under the new directive, the DOF is mandating closer coordination between the Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS), and the Revenue Operations Group (ROG). The move is designed to dismantle silos within the department that have historically allowed corrupt practices to persist. 
Go said the initiative was a "zero-tolerance" mandate, emphasizing that a transparent revenue system is a prerequisite for national development.

Go noted that the government will not allow the hard-earned money of citizens to be wasted, promising more efficient monitoring and faster information sharing across bureaus.

To lead this consolidated effort, the DOF has appointed Rolando T. Ligon Jr. as Undersecretary for the ROG. In a dual role, Ligon will also serve as the Supervising Undersecretary for RIPS.

The appointment effectively places the department's primary revenue-generating oversight and its anti-corruption investigative arm under a single leadership structure. By streamlining these functions, the DOF aims to bridge the gap between policy enforcement and internal discipline.

RIPS serves as the central anti-corruption unit of the DOF, tasked with the detection and investigation of irregular practices among personnel. Its primary tool remains the lifestyle check, where investigators scrutinize the assets of officials to determine if their holdings are commensurate with their lawful government income.

Meanwhile, the ROG maintains direct supervision over the country’s two largest tax-collecting bodies: the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs.

A focal point of the renewed crackdown is the monitoring of BIR examiners and their compliance with updated guidelines regarding Letters of Authority. These documents, which authorize tax audits, have long been identified as potential flashpoints for bribery and extortion.

By tightening the audit process, the DOF expects to reduce opportunities for discretionary abuse that lead to significant revenue loss.

Go reiterated that the department remains committed to ensuring that public funds are collected with integrity, viewing the move as essential to maintaining the government’s fiscal health.