Over P1.5-M illegal LPG products seized in Cagayan
AN estimated P1.5 million worth of illegally-produced liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) products being sold in Cagayan Valley on Saturday were seized by agents of the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in a raid in Enrile municipality, PNP-CIDG director Brig. Gen. Romeo M. Caramat Jr. said yesterday.
According to the official, members of the CIDG Region 2 also arrested six persons during the raid at the C-Gas Refilling Plant in By. Roma Norte in Enrile town.
The raid was conducted on the strength of a search warrant issued by Judge Neljoe Cortes of the Tuguegarao City Regional Trial Court.
Caramat said that the raid was made amid his order for all PNP-CIDG units to intensify their crackdown against the unauthorized refilling, sale and distribution of petroleum products.
Around 9:45 a.m. last Saturday, the PNP-CIDG director said that his men, with the help of the local police and representatives from Isla Petroleum Gas Corporation and Petron LPG Corporation, stormed the illegal LPG facility.
Target of the raid were the owners, managers and operators of C-Gas Refilling Plant, who were accused of involvement in the sale and distribution of adulterated Isla and Petrol LPG and other petroleum products.
Arrested during the operation were company supervisor Anabelle Domingo, 51; LPG refillers Jay Nicolas, 31; Gerry Ortiz, 29; and Christopher Elacion, 23; driver Erwin Bañares, 32; and helper Jerwin Mahinay, 31.
Recovered during the operation were 19 empty 11kg Solane snap-on, six empty 11 kg Solane POL valves, 18 empty 11kg Petron Gasul snap-on, one empty Petron Gasulette, 25 filled 11kg Petron Gasul PoL valves, four empty 11kg Petrol Gasul Pol valves, 20 filled 11kg Solane, four filed 11kg Solane snap-on, two sacks of assorted fake seals, 12 weighing scales with partner filler hose, an LPG compressor, two LPG pump motors, two filled 11kg Petron Gasul snap-on, three filled Petron Gasulette, 11 filled Solane 11kg Pol valves, six filled Fiesta 11kg Pol valves, 14 filled 11kg Gasul Pol valves, eight filled 11kg Gasul Pol valves, six filled Gasulette, 16 Solane cylinders undergoing repair, and an empty 11kg Fiesta snap-on.
A company truck being used to deliver the products was also impounded by the CIDG.
Brig. Gen. Caramat said that incidental to the search, his men also found an abandoned truck found containing 38 empty cylinders and Pol valves with Petron and Solane trademarks.
All arrested suspects were placed under the custody of the CIDG Regional Field Unit 2 facing charges for violation of Presidential Decree 1865 or “misuse of allocation” or the sale, transfer or diversion of mandated petroleum fuel allocation by oil companies, distributors, dealers or consumers contrary to the declared intent of the government in making such allocation, and violation of Republic Act 5700, which made it unlawful for any person without the written consent of the manufacturer to fill steel cylinders and tanks with the company product.
“The CIDG recognizes the need to curb and eradicate this kind of rampant and extensive illegal activity, and with the marching orders from the chief PNP Gen. Benjamin C Acorda Jr., through his five-Focused Agenda, we will be persistent and stern in pursuing and arresting law breakers to prevent them from endangering public consumers,” Brig. Gen. Caramat said.
