Fake cigarettes, guns seized from Awol cops

PAMPANGA. PPPO Director Senior Superintendent Nicolas Salvador, San Simon Chief of Police Chief Inspector Louie Gonzaga and Barangay Sto. Nino Chief Investigator Jeck Garcia inspect the suspected counterfeit cigarettes seized from four suspects Friday, August 3. (Princess Clea Arcellaz)
PAMPANGA. PPPO Director Senior Superintendent Nicolas Salvador, San Simon Chief of Police Chief Inspector Louie Gonzaga and Barangay Sto. Nino Chief Investigator Jeck Garcia inspect the suspected counterfeit cigarettes seized from four suspects Friday, August 3. (Princess Clea Arcellaz)

SAN SIMON -- Boxes of counterfeit cigarettes and guns with ammunitions were seized by local authorities here from four individuals, including two policemen who went on absence without official leave (Awol), in Barangay Sto. Niño of this town on Friday, August 3.

Sto. Niño Barangay Kagawad Rudy Tayag said the suspects allegedly posed as distributors of Philip Moris Marlboro products and delivered their commodities to several stores in the area.

“May mga nagreklamo na mga nagtitinda na nakabili daw sila ng fake na sigarilyo, iba daw ang lasa at iba rin ang packaging kaya hinabol agad namin iyong nagdedeliver. Nahabol namin sila sa di kalayuan at nag-aalok pa sa ibang mga nagtitinda (There are complaining that they bought fake cigarettes, the taste is different and also the packaging that's why we chased those who delivered them. We found them and saw offering to others),” Tayag said.

After tracking down the suspects, Tayag said they immediately invited the suspects to the barangay hall.

The barangay leader then sought the assistance of the San Simon police station for the proper apprehension of the suspects.

Police Chief Inspector Louie Gonzaga, the town’s chief of police, identified the suspects as Police Officer 1 Jupiter Quizon, 35, and Police Officer 1 Christian Damian, 30, both members of the Manila Police District who are on Awol.

The two other suspects were identified as Jona Cenia, 43, a village councilman of Barangay Euseco in Tondo, Manila, and his brother-in-law Marlon Padalian, 22, also a resident of Euseco, Tondo, Manila.

Gonzaga said the suspects are suspected members of a syndicate distributing counterfeit cigarettes in various areas outside Metro Manila.

He disclosed that the suspects were carrying three boxes of cigarettes containing some 150 reams which they sell P700 each.

“Base sa statement ng complainant, nag-iikot at nag-aalok talaga ang mga suspects. Nagpapakilala pa na mga pulis nga at iyong gamit nilang sasakyan ay may plaka at sticker ng PNP (Philippine National Police). Maaaring parte sila ng sindikato dahil napag-alaman namin na itong mga dalawang pulis ay may kaso na rin na kinakaharap ng kaso na ganito sa MPD kaya sila nag-Awol,” he said.

(Based on the statement of complainant, the suspects really offer. They introduce themselves as policemen and the vehicle they used has plate number and sticker of PNP. They have different syndicates because we found out that these two policemen have case like this that's why they went awol.)

Aside from the counterfeit cigarettes worth P100,000, Gonzaga said they also found two 9mm pistol, live ammunition and the receipt used by the suspects during their transaction inside the vehicle.

“Nakikipagcoordinate na kami sa Philip Moris para sa proper inspection nitong mga sigarilyo pero kahit hindi ka naman expert, we can already assume na fake ito dahil pare-pareho ang serial number (We coordinated with Philip Moris for the proper inspection of these cigarettes but even if you are not an expert, we can already assume that these are fake because these have the same serial number),” he said.

Cenia claimed that they were not aware that the cigarettes they are selling are fake.

She added that they do not personally know the police officers who rented their vehicle for the delivery of the products.

“Mga resellers lang kami, kinuha namin doon sa dumadaan na truck sa amin. Gusto namin kumita kaya ititinda nga namin sana itong mga sigarilyo. Itong mga pulis, hindi namin sila kilala. Nirentahan lang namin iyong sasakyan nila nakapost sa Facebook, para nga sana itinda itong mga sigarilyo (We are only resellers, we got these from the truck passing by. We wanted to earn that's why we try to sell these cigarettes. These policemen, we don't know them. We just rented their vehicle that was posted on Facebook for us to use in selling cigarettes),” Cenia narrated.

Pampanga Police Provincial Office Director Senior Superintendent Nicolas Salvador, who also interrogated the suspects, said that he will order for a probe to determine if the suspects are also operating in other places in the province.

“Titignan natin kung konektado ito sa ibang pangyayari, katulad ng pagkadiskubre ng mga warehouses ng pekeng sigarilyo dito rin sa San Simon at kung meron pa silang ibang pinagsusuplayan dito sa Pampanga. Pero sa ngayon, sesentro muna tayo dito sa mga statements ng complainants natin,” he said.

The four suspects, who were detained in this station’s custodial facility, will be facing charges for violation of RA 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

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