SEVERAL machines used for manufacturing fake cigarettes and finished goods have been seized by a “strike team” under the operations group of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) central office in simultaneous operations in Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental province on Tuesday, May 22.
Remedios Advincula Jr., chief revenue officer III, said the on-the-spot surveillance and confiscation of the items were a result of a mission order against three taxpayers engaged in manufacturing cigarettes not duly registered with the BIR.
The group also seized bundles of counterfeit and unregistered internal revenue tax stamps which cost P32.50 each and packs of fake Marvel and Fortune cigarettes.
Seized inside a warehouse in Barangay Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City were two cigarette filters machine and two cigarette makers, while four other cigarette makers were confiscated in a factory along the national highway in Villanueva town.
The BIR has yet to determine the total amount of the confiscated items as they also withhold the identities of the owners due to the data privacy act.
"Legitimate yung operation natin kasama natin ang mga barangay officials at mga police from CIDG kasi wala na doon ang mga may-ari (Our operation is legitimate, with us were barangay officials and personnel from CIDG since the owners were not present)," Advincula said.
Advincula said these fake cigarettes may have been proliferated across Northern Mindanao.
"May nakita tayo sa isang factory doon na ready for disposal na (We saw a factory which is ready for disposal),"he said.
Advincula said the owners will likely face charges for unlawful possession of fake stamps under the national internal revenue code.
He said the owners will still be accorded due process in accordance to the procedure of the BIR.
Advincula said they will take all seized items under their custody.
"Ilalagay natin sa warehouse sa national office ang mga items at (We will store the confiscated items in the warehouse of the national office and) we will destroy them in accordance with the law," Advincula said.
"I-rehistro nyo lang ang mga business niyo kasi yung makolekta nating tax para sa mga infrastructure projects at iba pang programa ng gobyerna yan. Kami (Register your business because the tax collected will be for the infrastructure projects and other programs of the government) we are just doing our job for the country," he added.