MANILA, Philippines - In line with his vow to stop corruption in government, President Duterte has asked the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to check taxes paid by a businessman who was among the top campaign financiers of losing presidential candidate Manuel Roxas II.

Duterte told the BIR to probe Francis Eric Gutierrez, owner of SR Metals Inc. (SRMI), a nickel mine operator in Agusan del Norte penalized by the government in 2007 for alleged over-mining.

The President has accused Roxas of being a protector of SRMI since the former interior and local government secretary used Gutierrez's plane during his campaign.
Read more: BIR told: Probe Mar campaign financier