Provincial

COPS ARREST WOMAN, SEIZE P1.9-M FAKE CIGARETTES IN LAGUNA

admin November 27, 2023

CAMP BRIG. GEN. VICENTE P. LIM, Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna –Police on Friday arrested a woman following the confiscation of some P1.9 million worth of counterfeit cigarettes in an operation at Tropical Subdivision in Bgy. Concepcion, San Pablo City, Laguna.

Arrested was alias “Shiela,” 49, of Bgy. Concepcion, San Pablo City.

Confiscated from the suspect were 36 boxes of assorted counterfeit cigarettes worth P1,975,350.

Combined operatives from the Regional Intelligence Division 4A and the San Pablo City Police Station launched the sting following a complaint from the Philip Morris and Fortune Tobacco Corporation Incorporated regarding the proliferation of counterfeit PMFTC products.

Earlier, operatives of the Police Regional Office 4A raided an illegal tobacco manufacturing facility and warehouse in Agoncillo, Batangas.

PRO4A (Calabarzon) Regional Director Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas said the accomplishments were part of their continuous campaign to stop the selling of smuggled and counterfeit tobacco products in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) region.

Lucas directed his men to conduct thorough investigation regarding the illegal manufacturing and smuggling of tobacco products which hamper the legal manufacturers of cigarettes and affect 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 director na magsagawa ng malalimang imbestigasyon at intelligence gathering upang maubos natin ang mga ilegal na pagawaan at imbakan ng mga pekeng sigarilyo,” Lucas said.

“Sa ating mga kababayan, mangyaring ipagbigay-alam lamang sa inyong kinauukulan kung mayroon kayong nalalaman na mga kahina-hinalang facility o factory dahil hindi lamang ekonomiya natin ang sinasabotahe ng mga ilegalista, ilang manggagawa rin at mga tobacco farmer ang nawawalan ng kita dahil sa paglaganap ng smuggled at pekeng sigarilyo” he added.

The arrested suspect was charged with violation of Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines while the seized fake cigarettes will be turned over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation.