P1 billion seized cigarettes destroyed in Cag. de Oro

REGIONAL investigation division of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)–Revenue Region No. 16 Cagayan de Oro City led the destruction on Wednesday of some P1 billion-worth of cigarettes bearing fake tax stamps that were confiscated by teams from the bureau as part of their heightened joint drive against tax fraud.

The BIR destroyed a total of 7,219 master cases and 232 reams of seized cigarette products with aggregate unpaid Excise Tax of about P1.2 billion from five separate joint enforcement operations done by the bureau.

The disposal was done at the DiGaMa Waste Management Facility in Barangay Bayabas, hereby the BIR officials in cooperation with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) North Eastern Mindanao Regional Office.

 “We are here for the destruction and disposal of counterfeit and untaxed cigarette products with the help of the DiGaMa Waste Management Facility,” said BIR No. 16 chief legal division Johaira B Said-Badron.

Badron said criminal cases have been filed against all perpetrators involved in the manufacturing or selling of the seized cigarettes without BIR Stamps or with counterfeit stamps.

“As of press time, we are awaiting resolution from the Department of Justice (DOJ),” she said

A total of 7,219 master cases and 232 reams of cigarette products were confiscated and in accordance with the government pursuant Revenue Regulation No. 7-2014, with an aggregate unpaid Excise Tax of about P1.2 Billion.

“We are strictly enforcing the seizure of cigarette products without the BIR stamps and with counterfeit BIR Stamps because, outside from the foregone revenue for the government, we are also trying to protect the businesses of legitimate manufacturers who are paying their taxes dutifully,” Badron added.

The destruction of the illicit products while adhering to minimum health standards were witnessed by BIR-RR 16 regional director Florante Aninag, assistant regional director Emir Abutazil, Commission on Audit (COA) representatives, Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corporation (PMFTC) and Intellectual Property officials of Philip Morris Philippine Manufacturing Inc (PMPMI), the media and NBI. (Recthie Tolinero/VPSB/PIA10)