BIR seizes illegal cigarettes in Batangas

BATANGAS CITY – Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) enforcers raided three establishments allegedly selling and supplying cigarettes not bearing the required internal revenue stamps in this city late June.

Large Taxpayers Service Assistant Commissioner Nestor Valeroso and Excise Tax head revenue executive assistant Teresita Angeles led three composite teams from the LTS in the raid on June 26.

Fraud investigators from the tax agency’s National Investigation Division (NID) headed by Sixto Dy Jr. searched the premises of the establishments to validate information contained in a letter provided to the bureau.

The teams’ validation and verification disclosed that locally manufactured cigarettes not bearing the required internal revenue stamps were indeed being sold.

Likewise uncovered in the course of the search were imported cigarettes such as RGD, D& B and Farstar, being sold but unregistered for distribution or sale in the Philippines.

Approximately 94 cases were confiscated and issued apprehension slips. Inventory revealed almost 37,305 packs of imported cigarettes and 5,130 packs of locally manufactured Marlboro Ice Blast, Black and Lights; Fortune Int’l Extra, Marvel Filter king, Westpoint Filter King, Champion Menthol, Winston Lights, Winnsboro, Pentagon, Dallas Filter King.

New internal revenue stamps affixed to cigarettes during the search were checked for authenticity through the Taggant Reader and Mobile Verification Devices issued to excise tax revenue officers and validated by APO Production Inc. and the bureau’s Internal Revenue Stamp Integrated System (IRSIS).

Based on results of the validation and verification, the BIR will immediately collect deficiency excise tax on the confiscated cigarettes not bearing the required internal revenue stamp, impose administrative penalties, and file the necessary criminal action against the erring establishments.

The operation was made pursuant to a mission order signed by Commissioner Kim Henares.