MANILA, Philippines – Nasamsam ng mga awtoridad ang tinatayang ₱200 milyong halaga ng hinihinalang illicit cigarettes at manufacturing equipment sa isang joint inter-agency raid sa isang warehouse sa Tanza, Cavite nitong Huwebes.
Ayon sa Bureau of Customs (BOC), isinagawa ang operasyon sa pamamagitan ng letter of authority at mission order kaugnay ng umano’y paglabag sa Customs Modernization and Tariff Act at Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act.
Sa paunang imbestigasyon, narekober ang 11 cigarette manufacturing machines, dalawang generator sets, isang forklift, at finished cigarette products mula sa 10 brand. Sasailalim sa final assessment at inventory ang mga nasamsam na materyales ng BOC at iba pang ahensya.
Sa hiwalay na pahayag, inatasan ni Philippine National Police chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. ang lahat ng police chiefs sa buong bansa na paigtingin ang koordinasyon sa local governments upang bantayan ang mga warehouse at ari-arian na maaaring gamitin sa ilegal na paggawa ng sigarilyo.
“Police and community relationships that are built on trust are an essential ingredient in effective law enforcement and efficient implementation of peace and order measures,” ani Nartatez.
“At the end of the day, we both have a common goal of making every street and every community a safe place to live, and a secured place…to invest in,” dagdag niya.
Binigyang-diin din ni Nartatez ang kahalagahan ng pagsunod sa tamang operational procedures upang mapanatili ang rule of law at mapalakas ang kampanya laban sa cigarette smuggling.
“We are on the right track in our campaign against cigarette smuggling as proven by the billions of pesos worth of tobacco products that we confiscated so far. I am certain that we will be able to do more with the help of the residents and officials down to the barangay level,” aniya. Mary Anne Sapico
