CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Revenue Region 4 Tuesday, June 6, said that it has formally taken custody of the 89 master cases of various brands of cigarettes found in inside a van in Bacolor town recently.
BIR Regional Director Jethro Sabariaga said that the Kia Ceres van owned by one Jerry Maninang is now in the custody of the BIR along with its contents.
"According to national tax laws, we are mandated to take custody of the items for filing of appropriate cases," Sabariaga said.
It could be remembered that last May 24, BIR sampled some of the 60 master cases in question and these all failed the scan test conducted by the bureau’s personnel.
The P1 million-worth fake tax stamps on the suspected counterfeit cigarettes were discovered inside the abandoned container van in San Isidro village in Bacolor town last May 16.
Police reports said that the van was left since March 12 and was recovered last May 16 by police operatives. The truck was later claimed allegedly by Maninang of Barangay Alasas in the City of San Fernando.
Sabariaga said that it is also likely that the cigarettes are also counterfeit due to the poor packaging quality.