THE government can seize billions worth of illegal cigarettes, but if Filipinos can still buy them openly, then the battle is far from over.
The Bureau of Customs and the Philippine National Police have been scoring major victories against cigarette smuggling. Warehouses are being raided, shipments intercepted and billions of pesos worth of contraband confiscated and destroyed.
But here is the uncomfortable question: Why are illegal cigarettes still so easy to find?
The recent seizure by Police Regional Office 3 under PBGen. Jess Mendez of suspected smuggled cigarettes reportedly worth nearly P1 billion shows that authorities are hitting the big players hard.
In fairness, PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio “Tateng” Nartatez Jr. is doing his job well. His high public trust rating is proof that many Filipinos recognize his leadership and performance.
And with his retirement still months away, Nartatez has time to make the campaign against illegal cigarettes even more aggressive.
Why not bring the fight directly to the streets?
Regional directors, provincial directors and city and municipal police chiefs should strengthen coordination with LGUs to identify stores, vendors and other establishments openly selling suspected illegal cigarettes.
Barangay officials and local enforcement units can become the eyes and ears of the government.
This is not about simply running after small-time sellers. It is about destroying the retail network that keeps the illegal cigarette business profitable.
The PNP and BOC have already demonstrated that they can choke the supply.
Now they must choke the market.
Because the ultimate measure of success is not how many billions are seized in warehouses, but how difficult illegal cigarettes become to buy in every barangay.
If Nartatez can help achieve that before retirement, he will leave behind something more important than statistics.
He will leave streets where illegal cigarettes no longer have a place.
