Raid nets 27T butane canisters, 300 LPG cylinders

Over 27,000 butane canisters and 300 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders were seized from an illegal butane refilling station in Barangay Tawason, Mandaue City last Wednesday afternoon.

A joint team of operatives from the Mandaue Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, Department of Energy, and City Environment and Natural Resources Office raided the refilling station at 5 p.m.

SPO4 Willard Selibio, investigator of the case, said that the illegal butane refilling station was owned by a Gary Mangubat, 45, of Barangay Canduman. Mangubat is reportedly a barangay official.

Employees of the refilling station were quick to run away when the operatives arrived in the area.

The operatives recovered 13,220 refilled butane canisters and 13,860 empty butane canisters. They also found 180 LPG cylinders, weighing 50 kilograms each, and another 142 empty LPG cylinders.

At least 31 cartridge-type refilling devices, 12 weighing scales, a fire extinguisher, an air compressor and other devices that were used in the operation of the butane refilling station were also seized.

Mayor Luigi Quisumbing said he is glad with the outcome of the operation.

“The improperly filled and improperly refilled butane canisters is one of the leading causes of fire incidents not just in Mandaue City, but really all over the country,” said Quisumbing.

Mangubat will be charged for violating DOE Circular 2014-010001, which provides the rules and regulations governing the LPG industry.

The confiscated items were turned over to DOE-Visayas Field Office for the proper disposal of the items. /