MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) reported that this year, the value of illegally seized vape and cigarette products has reached over P7.2 billion.
In an interview, BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui stated, that the total amount is equivalent to 500 packages of cigarettes and 170,000 vapes that they confiscated from illegal sellers.
Photo Courtesy: BIR
According to Lumagui, this is the result of their continuous efforts against the sellers of these products.
He also mentioned that this aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify the campaign against these items.
For now, he assured that these products are not illegal if they have the Tamaraw stamp.
Photo Courtesy: BIR
Additionally, he stated that their agency’s other initiatives are ongoing.
“Unang una po dyan yung ginagawa po natin na nationwide raid ng mga involved dito, marami po tayo ginagawa dyan nationwide at sabay sabay po yan at sinisigurado natin na napupuntahan natin ang mga nagbebenta hindi lang sa mga retail pati na rin sa mga warehouses at yung mga malalakihan po na nagbebenta ng mga ilegal na mga sigarilyo at vape.” saad ni Commissioner Lumagui sa isang panayam
Meanwhile, the agency encourages all manufacturers and business owners to register their products to avoid being included in the list of illegal sellers.
Lumagui has previously warned that anyone caught illegally selling these products and not paying proper taxes will face appropriate penalties.