AGENTS of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group on Friday raided an illegal Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) refilling plant in Caloocan City where they seized an estimated P25 million worth of evidence, a report to PNP chief, General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil said yesterday.

PNP-CIDG director, Major General Nicolas D. Torre III said eight employees of the Pyro LPG Corporation refilling plant located at No. 416 Tullahan Road in Barangay 163, Quiteria, Caloocan City, were arrested during the raid conducted by members of the CIDG National Capital Region Field Unit on the strength of a search warrant for violation of Republic Act 11592 or the LPG Industry Regulation Act.

Five main objects of the search warrant issued by Judge Manuel V. Barrios of the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court Branch 126 are still being tracked down as of press time, Maj. Gen. Torre said.

The five include the president, secretary, two board of directors and treasurer of the raided firm.

Maj. Gen. Torre said that representatives from Petron Corp. were present during the raid wherein the arrested employees were caught in the act of aiding each other in illegally refilling and cross-filling Petron Gasul and Fiesta Gas LPG cylinders.

Confiscated during the operation were assorted tools and equipment being used in gas refilling including hoses and weighing scales, two refilling pumps, a compressor, dozens of already filled or empty Petron Gasul, Fiesta Gas, and Gasullete LPG tanks and a closed van, and two trucks with LPG storage tanks.

The arrested employees are now being questioned at the CIDG Manila District Field Unit office while the recovered pieces of evidence were turned over to a Petron Corp. representative for safekeeping.

Maj. Gen. Torre said the arrested individuals will be facing criminal charges for violation of RA 11592, RA 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines and Presidential Decree 1865 before a Caloocan City prosecutor’s office.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon