THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has suspended 26 of their employees oer various violations they committed in the agency.

Commissioner Romeo Lumagui also said that he has approved the filing of formal charges that come with preventive suspension orders for 21 individuals.

He said that 18 of those have been implemented and the remaining 3 are due for implementation.

Likewise the tax body said they approved the decisions that penalized 5 BIR staff with suspensions.

Lumagui said that the employees were found to have committed grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, gross neglect of duty, violation of reasonable office rules and regulations, violation of the Anti-Red Tape Act, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

He also said that he has been conducting a clean-up of the BIR.

Part of his mandate is to ensure that the BIR is filled with professionals who have integrity.

"The BIR will continue to create a culture of professionalism and integrity under my watch," he said.