Vendor arrested for selling cigarettes to a minor in Pampanga
Mon Lazaro February 5, 2025 at 09:00 PM
CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – A vendor was arrested in Pampanga for selling cigarettes to a minor on Monday (February 3).
A report submitted to Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, Central Luzon police director, identified the vendor as a certain Rodolfo, a resident of Barangay San Agustin, San Miguel, Bulacan. He was entrapped around 9:50 a.m. in Barangay Sta. Lucia, Sta. Ana, Pampanga.
An initial investigation revealed that several reports had allegedly identified the suspect, who was driving a white van, as being involved in selling cigarettes to minors.
The Sta. Ana Municipal Police Station conducted a surveillance operation, eventually confirming the reports. Officers then apprehended the suspect while he was selling cigarettes to a minor in Barangay Sta. Lucia.
The Sta. Ana police operatives confiscated 10 boxes of RGD cigarettes worth ₱180,000, ₱5,000 in cash, a Hyundai H100 with license plate NCU9614, and a Vivo Android phone.
The suspect and the seized items were brought to the Sta. Ana MPS for proper documentation and legal proceedings.
The suspect now faces charges for violating Executive Order No. 26 in relation to R.A. 9211, otherwise known as the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003.
Meanwhile, Col. Jay Dimaandal, Pampanga police director, said, “We are committed to ensuring the strict enforcement of tobacco regulations to safeguard the health and safety of minors. We encourage the public to report any similar violations to help us curb illegal tobacco sales.”
📷 Andres Siimon, Unsplash