CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Fake cigarettes worth some P900,000 were seized from two suspects at a police-Comelec checkpoint in Barangay Mapalad, Arayat town on May 14.
Police said the suspects, identified as alias Gerald of Barangay Sta. Cruz, Lubao and
alias Noel of Barangay Durungao, San Luis, Batangas, were on board a vehicle when flagged down at the checkpoint manned by personnel of the Arayat Municipal Police Station.
Instead of stopping, the suspects tried to escape to Cabiao, Nueva Ecija but the quick response of the operatives resulted to their arrest.
Discovered in their Nissan NV350 Urvan were 60 boxes of cigarettes estimated to be worth ₱900,000. When police asked for relevant documents to prove the legality of their shipment, the suspects failed to present any paperwork.
The suspects now face charges for violation of RA 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines), RA 8293 (Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines), and RA 1937 (Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines).
“Ang pagkakahuli sa mga suspek at pagkakakumpiska sa mga kontrabando ay isang malinaw na patunay ng kahusayan at dedikasyon ng ating kapulisan dito sa Region 3. Hindi natin kailanman palalampasin ang mga ganitong uri ng iligal na aktibidad na hindi lamang nakakasira sa ating ekonomiya kundi nagpapalaganap rin ng maling negosyo sa ating lipunan,” enthused Police Regional Office 3 director BGen. Jean S. Fajardo. Punto News Team/PRO-3
