CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla Jr. of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) held a joint press briefing on Monday, February 16, in Barangay Panipuan following the discovery and coordinated shutdown of illegal tobacco manufacturing operations in Pampanga.

Remulla underscored the scale of the problem, noting its impact on public services.

“In 2025 alone, the government lost approximately P30 billion in revenues intended for public healthcare due to illicit tobacco,” he said.

The multi-agency operation, conducted in coordination with the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Department of Agriculture, Philippine National Police–CIDG, and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), uncovered four illegal tobacco factories in San Fernando, Mexico, and San Simon.

Authorities reported that the facilities were operating without valid permits and producing unregistered tobacco products not listed under the National Tobacco Administration or approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Seized evidence included cigarette-making and packing machines, tobacco drying equipment, raw materials, cigarette filters, and counterfeit BIR tax stamps—indicating a well-organized syndicate.

Officials noted that the near-simultaneous shutdown of all four factories on January 29, 2026, strongly suggests coordinated operations. The factories had originally been registered for other purposes but ceased operations without proper permits in 2023, resuming illegally in January 2026. All products produced were deemed entirely illegal.

Legal cases are now being prepared under multiple laws, including the Tax Code (Republic Act 8424), the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act of 2024 (RA 12022), the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (RA 10863), the Consumer Act (RA 7394), and relevant environmental regulations.

Remulla stressed that enforcement will continue:
“The DILG, together with partner agencies, will continue its enforcement operations until these illegal activities are fully dismantled and the public’s funds protected.”

📷 DILG