Newly installed Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto Henares vowed on Friday to go after big time tax cheats to raise much needed funds for the anti-poverty program of President Benigno Aquino III.

Henares said the bureau will use all available resources, including computer technology and third party information, to catch even the rich and famous who do not pay correct taxes.

She, however, declined to divulge any individual who might be the object of the tax probe which will be conducted under the auspices of the run-after-tax-evaders (RATE) campaign.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, who witnessed the turnover of the BIR's reins from former revenue chief Joel Tan-Torres, said the President wants to substantially cut the number of poor families during the first three years of his term.

Purisima then appealed to tax examiners and collectors to work double time.

The finance Secretary cited surveys showing that more than 50 percent of Filipinos consider themselves poor.

"It is the desire of President Aquino to extend financial assistance to the poor of the poorest to enable them to send their children to schools and to health centers when they are ill," he said.