Market vendors voluntarily surrendered about P200,000 worth of illegal cigarettes to market officials and the police following an inspection and public awareness campaign against the sale of illicit tobacco products on Tuesday.
The Anti-Illicit Cigarettes Campaign, which included the voluntary surrender and disposal of illegal tobacco products, informed vendors that cigarettes without Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax stamps and the required graphic health warnings on cigarette packs cannot be sold commercially.
During the operation, the joint inspection team issued formal warnings and reminded vendors of the legal consequences of selling illicit cigarettes under Republic Act No. 12022 (Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act) and existing tax laws.
No criminal charges against the vendors were filed, however, because they voluntarily surrendered their non-compliant stocks and signed surrender documents. The confiscated cigarettes bore the brand logos of RGD, Dani, MD, Modern, Carnival, Black Hawk, Cannon, and Power.
The surrendered cigarettes were subsequently destroyed.
In a statement posted on the Manaoag social media page, Philippine Tobacco Institute Area Manager Jen Garcia said the confiscated cigarettes were considered illegal because they have not been subjected to the required taxes and did not comply with government standards.
Garcia said legitimate cigarette packs carry the proper tax stamp, a unique serial number, and the required health warning printed on the front of the package-features that were absent from the confiscated products. INQ