SEIZED FAKE CIGARETTES. The fake cigarettes seized during the “Oplan Sita” in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija last Wednesday. Photo by Steve A. Gosuico
Trike-riding man held for P16,520 fake cigarettes
SAN ANTONIO, Nueva Ecija – Police on Friday arrested a tricycle-riding man for transporting alleged fake cigarettes worth P16,520 during “Oplan Sita” operations in this town.
The suspect’s arrest and the confiscation of the contraband occurred a day after Maj. Ricardo M. Salomon Jr. took over as the town’s new acting police head on Thursday.
The operation took place amid strict orders from Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil for all police units to launch a crackdown against counterfeit and smuggled cigarettes nationwide.
Salomon said the successful operation was pulled off while his men led by Capt. Jessie V. Dulay were conducting “Oplan Sita” along the San Antonio-Zaragosa road in Bgy. Santa Cruz at 11:20 a.m. on Friday.
A Kawasaki Bajaj tricycle driven by the 24-year-old arrested suspect was flagged down but after routine inspection, it was found out that it was carrying a large box containing alleged fake cigarettes consisting of 50 reams of HP and 11 reams of Carnival cigarettes worth P16,520.
Salomon said the suspect was immediately arrested after failing to present pertinent documents related to his cargo
Also seized was the suspect’s vehicle while charges for violation of Republic Acts 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines and Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines are being readied for inquest-filing against the suspect.
