The Solid North Party-list on Tuesday lauded the recent seizure of around P2.5 billion worth of illicit cigarettes in Batangas and Malabon, saying this would contribute to protecting the livelihood of tobacco farmers that predominantly hail from the north.
“Nagpapasalamat tayo sa kapulisan sa pamumuno ni acting chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez, Jr., sa Highway Patrol Group sa pamumuno ni Gen. Hansel Marantan, at iba pa nating mga awtoridad dahil matagumpay nilang nasabat ang napakalaking halaga ng smuggled cigarettes sa Malabon at Batangas. Hindi ito magiging posible kundi dahil sa kanilang pamumuno at sa pagsusumikap na rin ng kanilang mga unit na itaguyod ang interes ng mamamayan.
“Malaki po ang maitutulong nito sa pagprotekta ng kabuhayan ng mga magsasaka sa Hilagang Pilipinas,” Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos said.
“Umaasa po tayong tuloy-tuloy ang pag-uusig sa mga responsable sa pagpasok ng mga iligal na produkto.”
The lawmaker also urged for the immediate and total destruction of the seized products to ensure that these would not enter the Philippine market.
Bernos called the proliferation of illicit tobacco products a “threat not only to farmers’ livelihood, but also to tax collection and public health initiatives that depend on the these.”
“Illicit tobacco products are hazardous to health, endanger the jobs of farmers, and curtail the government’s ability to fund universal healthcare because of unpaid taxes,” explained Bernos.
She also expressed hope that authorities would continue guarding against the entry of smuggled goods and putting smugglers behind bars.
“Umaasa po tayong tuloy-tuloy ang pag-uusig sa mga responsable sa pagpasok ng mga iligal na produkto at pagsiguro na mapapanagot sila sa batas,” the solon said.
The Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group reported that on January 1, it had seized suspected smuggled cigarettes worth P2.5 billion in separate operations in Malabon and Batangas.
According to the BOC, a large syndicate was behind the said smuggling.
