Woman yields 1.9-M fake cigarettes in Laguna
CAMP BRIG. GEN. VICENTE P. LIM, Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna -–Joint operatives on Friday arrested a woman and seized some ₱1.9 million worth of counterfeit cigarettes in an operation at Tropical Subdivision in Bgy. Concepcion, San Pablo City, Laguna.
Nabbed was alias “Shiela,” 49, of Bgy. Concepcion, San Pablo City.
Confiscated from the suspect were 36 boxes of assorted counterfeit cigarettes worth ₱1,975,350.
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.
The accomplishments were part of the continuous campaign of the PRO 4A to stop the selling of smuggled and counterfeit tobacco products in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) region.
PRO4A (Calabarzon) Regional Director Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Lucas directed his men to smash the illegal manufacturing and smuggling of tobacco products that affects the economy through tax evasion.
“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.
The confiscated fake cigarettes will be turned over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation.
