Malacañang remained clueless Monday about the abrupt resignation of the country’s top tax collector amid supposed struggles to meet the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s collection goals this year.

Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez said they have not yet received any resignation letter from BIR Commissioner Sixto Esquivias IV.

Golez said he also got no confirmation from either Finance Secretary Margarito Teves or Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita about the departure of Esquivias, the country's fifth tax chief to leave the Arroyo government since 2001.

“Nevertheless, as soon as we find out if such a resignation was given by the BIR commissioner then we will let you know,” Golez said in a news conference in the Palace.

“Until we see a resignation letter then we will take it as face value. It depends on the President if she will accept it or not,” he added, when informed about reports that Esquivias has confirmed his resignation in a radio interview.

Teves on Sunday confirmed that Esquivias quit his post and said it was up to the President to decide on his replacement. The finance chief also declined to give the reason behind the resignation.

Reports said Senior Deputy Commissioner Joel Tan-Torres may take over at the helm of the BIR.

The resignation of Esquivias came as the revenue agency strives to hit this year’s R798.5-billion collection target.

Close Esquivias aides said the resignation was triggered by policy differences with top finance officials on issues like his plan to change procedures in the collection of excise tax from cigarette manufacturers and the reassignment of field officials to tax-rich regions and districts in Metro Manila.

It is common knowledge that Teves has been critical of the bureau's collection performance, with an almost R39 billion shortfall during the first nine months of the year.

BIR old-timers said the resignation was a deja vu for the BIR chief, recalling that he also left the BIR as deputy commissioner for legal service 10 years ago following policy differences with then Commissioner Dakila Fonacier.

Observers also pointed that that the stay of Esquivias in the bureau was tenuous, becoming more untenable when Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile joined the camp of former President Joseph Estrada.

It was Enrile who requested President Gloria Arroyo to name Esquivias to the top BIR post.

Records showed that from January to September this year, some P557 billion was raised by the BIR, which is P39 billion short of its collection target of P596 billion for the period.