Philippine Finance Undersecretary Mendoza Resigns, todays news

The top official of the Department of Finance's campaign against erring tax officials has tendered his resignation, sources at the agency said Monday.
Finance Undersecretary Gaudencio Mendoza's resignation will take effect April 1.
In a text message to reporters by mobile phone, Finance Secretary Margarito Teves effectively confirmed Mendoza's resignation.
Teves said he has tasked Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran to oversee the operations of the agency's revenue operations group that Mendoza heads so as not to derail its campaign against corrupt tax officials and employees.
"The Revenue Integrity Protection Service of the DOF will continue to vigorously run after erring revenue officials. We will not let up in the fight against corruption in order to improve revenue collection and hence sustain economic growth and reduce poverty," Teves said.
Mendoza's resignation comes amid delays in the confirmation of Teves' appointment as Finance Secretary.
Several lawmakers have questioned a ruling by Mendoza that reduced the excise tax slapped on Pall Mall cigarettes, which are produced by British American Tobacco.

-By Cecilia E. Yap, Dow Jones Newswires