EVERYBODY’S pinning their hopes that the ongoing crackdown against smuggling and illegal manufacture of cigarettes in the country which is costing the government billions of pesos in unpaid revenues every year won’t be a “ningas-cogon” drive with the police force needing all the help they can get to stop the illegal trade.
Credit actually should be given to PNP chief General Tateng Nartatez who has assured the public they are doing everything to ensure that the smuggling or illegal production of tobacco products in the country won’t transform into a new POGO-like activity in the country.
He was referring to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) operations which was declared a social menace due to rampant criminal activities, including human trafficking, kidnapping, torture, and President Bongbong Marcos to order their total ban in July 2024 to restore public safety and institutional integrity.
Credit should also be given to the PNP Highway Patrol Group headed by Brigadier Gen. Hansel Marantan who really started it all. Records will speak that the PNP-HPG’s interception of nearly P3 billion worth of smuggled cigarettes since December last year triggered the stepped-up crackdown.
As ordered by Gen. Nartatez, all Police Regional Offices and PNP operating units like the CIDG and the Intelligence Group have joined forces to stop the illicit trade as proven by almost everyday seizure of large quantities of smuggled or illegally-manufactured cigarettes nationwide.
During a recent hearing of the House of Representatives, some lawmakers even asked the Bureau of Internal Revenue how much they have done to stop the illicit trade or otherwise, “daig kayo ni General Marantan” as one lawmaker said.
The battle started by Gen. Nartatez actually are all geared at identifying and prosecuting the persons specifically the “financiers and protectors” of the illegal trade. This could be done thru a whole-of-nation-approach including a stepped-up legal offensive and a much strengthened inter-agency collaboration to fight the multi-billion business.
I’m saying that large credit should be given to the PNP-HPG for proving that by merely doing its mandate as “Guardians of the Highway,” they can stop all kinds of illegal products being transported in our highways, streets and other major thoroughfares.
The major seizures made by the unit last December actually started from simple traffic violations-like non-wearing of seatbelts or busted tail lights-which ended up with the drivers of the closed vans and trucks spilling the beans regarding their cargoes. Following coordination with the BOC, the PNP-HPG and other assisting territorial units accounted for the multi-billions of pesos worth of cigarette contrabands.
“Ang totoo po ay naka-pitong tsamba na kami in less than 2 months,” Brig. Gen. Marantan said as lawmakers commended the PNP for a job well done in the anti-smuggling drive.
Right now, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla is leading the drive on orders of President Marcos. The DILG chief has been leading top-level conferences being attended by Gen. Nartatez, Brig. Gen. Marantan, CIDG director Major Gen. Robert Morico and other top officials from the BOC, BIR, DOJ, the Coast Guard and other concerned government agencies.
The meetings are being done to fine-tune the campaign and go after the real “brains” and their protectors. I heard that there is already a list of government and law enforcement officials-active and retired alike-who are in the list. Evidence are being build-up against them for filing of charges that will ensure the certainty of punishment as what the DILG and the DOJ wants.
On Monday, Gen. Nartatez, Sec. Remulla and BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno inspected three clandestine cigarette production sites smashed by the CIDG, the Police Regional Office 3 under Brig. Gen. Pojie Peñones and the PNP-IG headed by Brig. Gen. David Poklay in Pampanga province.
The top cop committed to ensure that the illegal cigarette trade will not transform into a new POGO-like social menace in the country. He said that this is the very same reason why the has been very aggressive in conducting raids and other intelligence-driven operations to confiscate as many illegal cigarettes and shut down warehouses and manufacturing sites since last year.
The three illegal cigarette production facilities were discovered days after police also smashed a similar manufacturing site in Mexico municipality where multi-million worth of cigarettes and equipment were seized. Smuggled cigarettes or those being manufactured in underground factories in the country have no proper tax stamps and graphic health warnings in full violation of the law.
A tip from a netizen led to the discovery of the illegal cigar factory in Pampanga where over P70 million tobacco products were recovered. Gen. Nartatez said that shortly after the livestreaming of the press conference regarding the raided illegal cigarette warehouses in San Fernando City, San Simon and Mexico towns, a netizen informed the PNP, through an SMS, of the existence of similar warehouse in a business park located in Barangay San Pablo Libutad in San Simon town.
CIDG officers proceeded to the area to check and through the clear glass window of the warehouse, detectives were able to confirm the presence of illicit “Modern” and “HP” brands cigarettes inside the compound. A verification made with the barangay officials disclosed that the target warehouse has no issued business permit.
So far, authorities have seized cigarette-making and repacking machines, tobacco drying equipment, raw materials, suspected counterfeit BIR tax stamps, and large volumes of finished products in different Pampanga sites.
“Simultaneous ito at well-coordinated. Mula sa pinakamaliit hanggang sa pinakamalaki, nakukuha at naaaresto natin ang mga involved. With the LGU, Department of Finance, BIR, Customs, PNP, and NBI working together, we are implementing not only existing laws, but also Republic Act 12022, Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage—part of the President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr’s directive,” Gen. Nartatez said.
“Kailangan nating malaman ang ecosystem ng ganitong operations. Ilan ang pumapasok na sasakyan, saan galing ang mga sigarilyo at dahon ng tabacco. May CCTV, police presence, at validation ng National Tobacco Administration. Lahat ng items at personalities ay may trace, lalo na kung may permit sila o dumaan sa legal channels. This is a fully coordinated, end-to-end operation,” the top cop added.
Gen. Nartatez also emphasized the broader purpose behind their crackdown.
“Hindi lang ito tungkol sa government revenues. Ito rin ay para sa health hazards na dulot ng mga illegal cigarettes. Kaya kasali ang Department of Health at Department of Energy sa monitoring.
Patuloy ang operations—from warehouses sa Mindanao hanggang sa tindahan at transport routes sa highways. May mga warehouse pa na hinukay sa ilalim ng lupa na may milyong-milyong sigarilyo. Lahat ng ito ay documented at validated,” he said.
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