WOMAN NABBED FOR ILLEGAL SALE OF LPG IN NUEVA ECIJA

BY KEVIN GALANG 

SAN JOSE CITY, Nueva Ecija — Operatives of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested a 45-year-old woman in a liquefied petroleum gas buy-bust operation in Bgy. Abar 1^st, this city.

CIDG Regional Field Unit 3 chief Col. Grant Gollod identified the suspect as alias “Jackie,” of San Roque Street in Bgy. Abar.

Gollod said the arrest was part of the CIDG’s flagship program Oplan LIRA, targeting violations of intellectual property and illegal trading laws. 

The operation was launched by the CIDG Nueva Ecija Provincial Field Unit in coordination with the law firm De Lumen Valdez Zamora and Associates.

Police said the suspect was apprehended after selling liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders—both filled and empty—bearing registered trademarks such as Fiesta LPG and Petron without proper authorization from the brand owners. 

Authorities said the illegal sale of branded LPG cylinders poses safety risks to consumers and disrupts fair market competition.

Seized were several LPG cylinders of varying sizes, including both filled and empty units branded under Fiesta and Petron, as well as a marked P1,000 bill used in the transaction.

The total value of the confiscated items was estimated at P72,000.

Gollod said the operation stemmed from a formal complaint filed by legal representatives of Petron Corp. on April 8, citing the widespread unauthorized sale of their branded LPG cylinders in the area.

The suspect is facing charges for violations of Republic Act 8293 (Intellectual Property Code), Republic Act 623 as amended, and Batas Pambansa Blg. 33 (Illegal Trading of Petroleum Products).