Published by: Annika Howie Quizana
Date Published: February 26, 2025
Time Published: 6:16 PM
Bureau of Customs (BOC) confiscated ₱128 million worth of Illicit fuel that was allegedly involved in paihi system and carried through motor tanker Feliza together with 11 lorry trucks at Subukin Port San Juan, Batangas on February 4.
The BOC marked that 217,000 liters of fuel, valued at ₱13,020,000 at a price of ₱60 per liter, were recorded piled up through the paihi or fuel pilfering operation.
The fuel was loaded on the motor tanker Feliza and 11 lorry trucks that were simultaneously located at the Subukin Port.
“The illegal and fraudulent entry of smuggled fuel and the paihi system hurt not only our legitimate fuel distributors but more so our consumers, the Filipino people because unmarked fuel put them at risk and hazard,” BOC Commissioner Bien Rubio said in a statement.
According to BOC-CIIS chief Verne Enciso, the tanker and the trucks did not meet the initial fuel sampling and testing implemented at the scene by the SGS fuel marking team in Batangas and the CIIS-MICP agents.
“While our mandate is to protect and man our borders, it comes with the responsibility of making sure our consumers, especially those who purchase from small and independent retailers, have access to only legal, legitimate, and tested products, including fuel,” he noted.
Bureau of Customs (BOC) announced that the owners, captain, and crew of the motor vessel, along with the truck operators, are facing charges for breaching Sections 117 and 1113 of Republic Act 10863, also known as the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA), as well as RA 10963, which refers to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, due to their failure to present the appropriate documentation for the confiscated fuel.
REFERENCES:
[1] P128 million smuggled fuel seized in Batangas. (2025, February 4). Philstar.com. https://www.philstar.com/nation/2025/02/05/2419230/p128-million-smuggled-fuel-seized-batangas
[2 Bajo, A. F. (2025, February 4). BOC seizes tanker, trucks with P128M worth of smuggled fuel. GMA News Online. https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/regions/935136/boc-seizes-tanker-trucks-with-p128m-worth-of-smuggled-fuel/story/
[3] Raffy, A. (2025, February 4). P128-M smuggled fuel intercepted at Batangas port. Daily Tribune. https://tribune.net.ph/2025/02/04/p128-m-smuggled-fuel-intercepted-at-batangas-port
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