CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)–Revenue Region No. 16 (RR-16) Cagayan de Oro City destroyed a total of 7,219 master cases and 232 reams of seized cigarette products with aggregate unpaid Excise Tax of about P1.2 billion from five separate joint enforcement operations done by the BIR RR-16 Cagayan De Oro City.
Led by its Regional Investigation Division, in cooperation with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) North Eastern Mindanao Regional Office, the disposal was done at the DiGaMa Waste Management Facility in Barangay Bayabas, here.
“We are gathered here today for the destruction and disposal of counterfeit and untaxed cigarette products with the help of the DiGaMa Waste Management Facility,” said BIR Revenue Region No. 16 Chief Legal Division Lawyer Johaira B Said-Badron.
As to cases filed, Badron said criminal cases have been filed against all perpetrators involved in the manufacturing or selling of the seized cigarettes without BIR Stamps or with counterfeit stamps.
“As of press time, we are awaiting resolution from the Department of Justice (DOJ),” she added.
A total of 7,219 master cases and 232 reams of cigarette products were confiscated and in accordance with the government pursuant Revenue Regulation No. 7-2014, with an aggregate unpaid Excise Tax of about P1.2 Billion.
“We are strictly enforcing the seizure of cigarette products without the BIR stamps and with counterfeit BIR Stamps because, outside from the foregone revenue for the government, we are also trying to protect the businesses of legitimate manufacturers who are paying their taxes dutifully,” Badron added.
Appropriate criminal charges have been filed against the perpetrators for the violations of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.
In the event, BIR-RR 16 Regional Director Florante Aninag, Assistant Regional Director Emir Abutazil, BIR RR-16 officials, Commission on Audit (COA) representatives, Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corporation (PMFTC) and Intellectual Property officials of Philip Morris Philippine Manufacturing Inc (PMPMI), TriMedia and NBI operatives witnessed the destruction of the illicit products while adhering to minimum health standards. (VPSB/PIA10)
