Regional cooperation is key to dismantling smuggling syndicates that operate across borders, Abra Lone District Rep. JB Bernos said on Friday as he backed the Philippine National Police’s intensified coordination with Southeast Asian law enforcement agencies to curb the flow of illicit goods into the country.
“Smuggling is a regional problem—thus, solving it requires that we look at the issue at a regional level and seek to work more closely with our neighbor countries,” said Bernos.
The lawmaker made the statement after Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. announced that the PNP is intensifying surveillance operations and expanding coordination with Southeast Asian law enforcement agencies to strengthen its crackdown on smuggling, particularly illicit cigarettes.
A long-time advocate of stronger measures against illicit cigarette trade, Bernos said sustained anti-smuggling operations are crucial not only to protect legitimate businesses and tobacco farmers in Abra but also to safeguard government revenues.
“The PNP is crafting measures with its regional counterparts to heighten border patrols against smuggling as well as trace and identify the origin of these contraband,” Nartatez said.
Bernos, vice chair of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, said intelligence sharing and joint cross-border operations are essential to disrupting the networks behind smuggling.
“We live in an increasingly borderless world, so the challenges of stopping smuggling also multiply because of the faster movement of illicit goods. Kaya mahalaga ang pakikipag-tulungan sa mga karatig-bansa natin para magkaroon tayo ng mas malawak at malalim na pag-unawa sa galaw ng mga sindikato ng smuggling,” he said.
The lawmaker also lauded the efforts of the PNP and its partner agencies, including the Bureau of Customs and the National Bureau of Investigation, which have seized more than P10 billion worth of smuggled cigarettes since twin enforcement operations conducted in Batangas and Metro Manila on Dec. 31, 2025.
A long-time advocate of stronger measures against illicit cigarette trade, Bernos said sustained anti-smuggling operations are crucial not only to protect legitimate businesses and tobacco farmers in Abra but also to safeguard government revenues.
“Nawa’y magpatuloy pa ang mga operasyon hanggang tuluyan nang masugpo na hindi lang ang cigarette smuggling, kundi ang lahat ng porma ng smuggling na banta sa kabuhayan ng mga Pilipino at sa kakayahan ng ating pamahalaan na mangolekta ng tamang buwis para sa mas maayos na serbisyo.”
