OVER P100-M ILLEGAL LPG TANKS, REFILLING MACHINES, SEIZED IN BULACAN, CALOOCAN

AGENTS of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) seized around P102 million worth of illegal butane refilling equipment and arrested two suspects in a raid at an industrial park in Plaridel, Bulacan.

PNP-CIDG director Maj. Gen. Leo M. Francisco  said the raid at Unit B23 inside the Jolly Industrial Park in Bgy. Parulan in Plaridel municipality is part of their stepped-up drive against illegal liquified petroleum gas or LPG products being manufactured and sold in different parts of the country.

PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco D. Marbil has ordered the PNP-CIDG to crack down on companies involved in the illegal activity to ensure the protection of the public.

Members of the CIDG Regional Field Unit 3, in coordination with the Bulacan Police Provincial Office and the Plaridel Municipal Police Station, conducted the raid last Saturday on the strength of a search warrant issued by Judge Carl B. Badillo of the Malolos City Regional Trial Court Branch 102.

Seized were various industrial machines being used in  LPG refilling and tampering activities, including gas cylinder valve handling and refilling equipment, as well as spray paint machines being used to repaint the fake LPG products, some three million empty butane canisters with different brands, and 50 crates containing tampered butane canisters.

Two suspects were arrested during the conduct of the raid and are now being investigated by the CIDG RFU3.

The two and the owners of the raided warehouse will be facing criminal charges for violation of Republic Act 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines before the Malolos City Prosecutor’s Office.

On the same day, more than P19 million worth of gas refilling equipment and unauthorized cylinder tanks being sold in different parts of Metro Manila were also confiscated by the PNP-CIDG inside a warehouse in Caloocan City.

The multi-million worth of evidence were recovered inside a compound in Bgy. 163 in Sta. Quiteria, Caloocan City.         

The raid was conducted on the basis of a search warrant for violation of RA 9293 issued by Judge Andres Soriano of the Makati City RTC Branch 148.

Nine employees of the raided establishment were arrested and are facing charges.

Seized during the raid in Caloocan were more than 140 filled and empty Solane, Petron and Fiesta LPG cylinder tanks, several large and small filling scales with corresponding nozzles and hoses used for illegal refilling, as well as two trucks being used to transport the LPG cylinders, most of them had the  fake Solane and Petro Gas trademarks.

The government has imposed penalties on underfilling, tampering and unauthorized decanting or refilling.

All LPG industry players were required to engrave correct weight markings, serial number and distinctive collar on each LPG cylinder tank.

Violations of the provisions are subject to penalties of between P1,000 to P4,000 for each cylinder tank.