PHILIPPINE National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) director Brigadier General Nicolas D. Torre III said he has ordered an intensified crackdown on illegal Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) products being clandestinely manufactured and sold in many parts of the country.

In partnership with the Department of Energy, the official said they are stepping up their surveillance on big or small companies engaged in the anomalous practice.

On orders of PNP chief, General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil, the PNP-CIDG is also going all-out against businessmen and companies involved in the illegal and hazardous practices in refilling, trading and maintenance of LPG cylinders nationwide as part of their Oplan: LIGAS.

The PNP official said he wants all personalities engaged in the illegal practice arrested and charged in court and their factories and business offices shut down.

Last Thursday, members of the CIDG Regional Field Unit 3 raided one such establishment at the Marilao Industrial Compound in Brgy. Mahabang Parang, Sta. Maria, Bulacan.

The raid was conducted on the strength of a search warrant issued by Judge Adonis Laure of the Bulacan Regional Trial Court Branch 21 for violation of Republic Act No. 623 as amended by RA No. 5700 which regulates the use of duly-marked LPG containers.

Brig. Gen. Torre said that recovered during the raid were various equipment and materials being used in illegal LPG refilling operations including original, repainted and refilled Pryce Gas LPG cylinders; weighing scales; refilling hoses and machines; LPG pumps; compressors; and storage tanks valued at around P5.7 million.

A company checker, Olga, was taken in for questioning at the CIDG headquarters.

The recovered pieces of evidence were also brought to the same office for temporary safekeeping.

Since the start of the year, PNP-CIDG agents have seized more than P200 million worth of illegally-refilled LPG tanks and other equipment being used to manufacture them following separate raids in the country.

Last month, PNP-CIDG operatives raided the Buklod LPG Trading/LPG Refilling Station in Brgy. Sto. Angel Norte, Sta. Cruz, Laguna.

An estimated P7 million worth of evidence, including LPG hoses, refilling valves, scales and two large storage tanks each containing 15 tons of LPG, were recovered.

The PNP-CIDG also shut down an illegal LPG refilling station in Sto. Tomas City, Batangas and four suspects were apprehended following a raid authorized by Judge Glenda Mendoza-Ramos of the Calamba City Regional Trial Court.

The raid was conducted at the Royal Gas Corporation compound where members of the CIDG Batangas Provincial Field Unit arrested four suspects.

One raid in Rodriguez, Rizal led to the arrest of three men and the confiscation of around P10 million worth of evidence including full and empty LPG cylinders, weighing scale and refilling machines and tools.

CIDG Region 3 operatives have also recovered nearly P102 million worth of illegal butane refilling equipment and arrested two suspects inside an industrial park in Plaridel, Bulacan.

PNP-CIDG officers also confiscated more than P19 million worth of gas refilling equipment and unauthorized Solane and Petro Gas cylinder tanks being sold in different parts of Metro Manila inside a warehouse in Brgy. 163 in Sta. Quiteria, Caloocan City this year.

Nine employees of the raided establishment were arrested and are now facing charges.  \

The passage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Industry Regulation Act (LIRA) has prompted the government to shift focus on consumer welfare and protection, where the Department of Energy has prioritized quality, health, safety and environmental standards.

As of the end of 2023, around 15,000 business establishments in the LPG sector were issued with a license to operate.

The DOE has also discouraged the so-called ‘bote-bote’ practice wherein petroleum products packed in recycled soda bottles are openly sold in the streets.

The government has also imposed penalties on under filling, tampering and unauthorized decanting or refilling, among others and required all LPG industry players to engrave correct tare weight markings, serial number and distinctive collar on each LPG cylinder tank.

Violations of these provisions are subject to penalties of between P1,000 to P4,000 for each cylinder tank.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon