C Calamba
City –Joint operatives
from the Regional Intelligence Division 4A
and San Pablo City
Police Station conducted a joint operation against Illicit
whites or counterfeited tobacco product
which resulted in the
arrest of a suspect
and confiscation of
P1,975,350 worth
of counterfeit cigarettes on November
24, 2023 at Tropical
Subdivision, Brgy
Concepcion, San
Pablo City.
Based on the report, the joint operatives assisted the ITP
Executive from Philip
Moris & Fortune Tobacco Corporation
Incorporated during
the conduct of joint
operation against
counterfeit PMFTC
products. Authorities
arrested the suspect
idenrified only as
alias “Shiela” female,
49 and resident of
Brgy. Concepcion,
San Pablo City, Laguna. Confiscated
evidence from her
possession and control are 36 boxes of
assorted counterfeit
cigarettes with estimated value amounting to P1,975,350.
Earlier, an illegal tobacco manufacturing facility and
warehouse were also
busted by the operatives of PRO 4A in
Agoncillo, Batangas.
This accomplishment is the result
of the continuous
campaign of PRO 4A
against the proliferation of smuggled and
counterfeit tobacco
products in the CALABARZON region.
PRO CALABARZO Regional Director
BGen Paul Kenneth
Lucas directed all the
operating units to
conduct thorough investigation regarding
the illegal manufacturing and smuggling
of tobacco products
which hamper legal
manufacturers of cigarettes which affects
the economy by evading taxes. “Tututukan natin ang ating
operasyon laban sa
smuggling at manufacturing ng mga
pekeng sigarilyo. Inatasan ko na ang ating
mga Provincial Directors na magsagawa
ng malalimang imbestigasyon at intelligence gathering upang maubos natin ang
mga illegal na pagawaan at imbakan ng
mga pekeng sigarilyo,” he said.
“Sa ating mga kababayan, mangyaring ipagbigay alam
lamang sa inyong
kinauukulan kung
mayroon kayong
nalalaman sa mga
kahina-hinalang facility o factory dahil hindi lamang
ekonomiya natin
ang sinasabotahe ng
mga iligalista, ilang
mang-gagawa din at
mga tobacco farmers
ang nawawalan ng
kita dahil sa paglaganap ng smuggled at
pekeng sigarilyo” he
added.
Meanwhile, the
arrested suspect will
face charges for Violation of RA 8293 or
Intellectual Property
Code of the Philippines. The confiscated contraband will
be turned over to the
appropriate authorities for further investigation.(ROSELLE
AQUINO)