BIR DESTROYS P2.1-B WORTH OF ILLICIT CIGARETTES IN PAMPANGA

BY KEVIN GALANG

PORAC, Pampanga – Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. on Monday led the destruction of about P2.1 billion worth of illicit cigarettes and several cigarette-making machines at a waste management facility in this town

A portion of the 13,500,000 packs of different brands of illicit cigarettes were incinerated and shredded to tiny pieces at the Digama Waste Management Services OPC compound in this municipality.

Over 20 units of cigarette-making machines were also destroyed by the company’s backhoe.

According to Lumagui, initially destroyed were the fake cigarettes from raided warehouses last year in Bulacan and Valenzuela. The remaining cigarettes are set to be destroyed within a week while being monitored by BIR personnel.

The BIR chief said the destruction of the cigarettes demonstrates their commitment in eradicating illicit trade, addressing health risks posed by the cigarettes from unknown sources, and protecting legitimate businesses.

“Gusto naming ipakita na ang cycle ng aming kampanya laban sa illicit cigarettes ay complete — mula sa raid at confiscation, filing of charges, at ngayon sa pagsira ng mga sigarilyo. Para mawala ang pangamba o haka-haka kung saan napupunta ang mga nakukumpiska naming mga illicit cigarettes, na hindi na ang mga ito nagbabalik sa merkado,” Lumagui said.

Aside from several units of shredders, a new incinerator machine was used in destroying thousands of rims and packs of cigarettes at the Digama Waste Management Services in this town,  which has been designated by the BIR as its primary destruction hub in Luzon.

Digama president Robert Gaza said the newly-acquired incinerator machine is capable of destroying large volumes of cigarettes in minutes.

“Mas efficient ang incinerator na ito dahil marami ang naiilagay na rims ng sigarilyo sa feeder at paglabas sa dulo ay abo na,” he said.

Lumagui said from February 24 to 28, all nine BIR revenue regions in the country are set to simultaneously destroy all the illicit cigarettes stored in their respective storage areas.

“On top of preventing tax losses, the destruction of these illicit products addresses serious public health risks. It is a crucial step in maintaining the integrity of our revenue collection, protecting the health of our citizens, and safeguarding the interests of legitimate business that properly file and pay correct taxes due to the government,” he added.

Some representatives from the Commission on Audit (COA) also witnessed the destruction activity.