CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Region 4 on Wednesday, May 24, sampled some of the 60 master cases in question and these all failed the scan test conducted by the bureau’s personnel.
The P1 million-worth fake tax stamps on the suspected counterfeit cigarettes were discovered inside an abandoned container van in Barangay San Isidro in Bacolor town last May 16.
Police reports said that the van was left since March 12 and was recovered last May 16 by police operatives.
The truck was later claimed allegedly by one Jeric Maninang of Barangay Alasas in San Fernando City.
BIR Regional Director Jethro Sabariaga said that they have seized the cigarettes for further investigation. He added that the truck will also be pulled in as part of the evidence.
The BIR will take at least 10 days to fully process the said merchandise and may file appropriate charges against those concerned.
Sabariaga said that this recent incident calls for more diligence on the part of dealers and buyers as the suspected counterfeit cigarettes with fake tax stamps bore brands of different cigarette manufacturers.
Sabariaga said that they will look into the source of the said merchandise with other government agencies.
He added that the BIR is alarmed with the growing number of discoveries of fake tax stamps used on cigarettes in the city.
He advised buyers and dealers to only purchase merchandise from reputable dealers.
The Bureau of Customs recently led raids that resulted in the discovery of fake tax stamps. Bureau of Customs (BOC) from Metro Manila and Pampanga conducted a surprise inspection of warehouses inside the San Simon Industrial Park which resulted in the discovery of suspected fake cigarettes worth some P2-billion. A similar raid was also conducted in Bulacan.
Recently, police operatives and officials from the Pampanga Provincial Government led the shutdown of a suspected illegal cigarette factory in Lubao town.
