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Keisha Ta-Asan - The Philippine Star
February 25, 2025 | 12:00am
BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said the large-scale operation from Feb. 24 to 28 aims to curb illicit trade and protect legitimate businesses.
STAR / File
MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is set to carry out the nationwide destruction of P2.1 billion worth of illicit cigarettes across 12 designated sites, led by the primary destruction hub in Porac, Pampanga.
BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said the large-scale operation from Feb. 24 to 28 aims to curb illicit trade and protect legitimate businesses.
“This initiative is a testament to our commitment to uphold the law and deter illicit activities,” he said.
“This is the rational next step from the nationwide raids we have conducted since 2022 and the filing of criminal cases against these unscrupulous individuals and corporations,” the BIR chief said.
About 14.3 million packs of illicit cigarettes will be destroyed, with an estimated tax liability of P6.4 billion.
Aside from preventing revenue losses, the BIR said that destroying illicit cigarettes also addresses public health risks posed by unregulated tobacco products.
Beyond confiscation, the BIR has filed multiple criminal cases against individuals and corporations involved in the illegal trade.
Lumagui reiterated that the agency would take decisive action against tax evaders.
Legislators, public health advocates, and tobacco industry stakeholders have been invited to witness the activity, which will be live-streamed on the BIR’s official social media pages.
“The destruction of illicit goods is a crucial step in maintaining the integrity of our revenue collection, protecting the health of our citizens, and safeguarding the interests of legitimate businesses who properly file and pay the correct taxes due to the government,” Lumagui said.
The Philippine Tobacco Institute (PTI) commended the BIR and Lumagui for their strong enforcement efforts in combating illicit trade.
“The PTI fully supports these enforcement efforts and remains committed to collaborating with government agencies to eliminate illicit trade,” it said.
“The destruction of these counterfeit and tax-evading products demonstrates that the BIR is taking decisive action to protect the integrity of the tobacco industry, which contributes billions of pesos in excise taxes annually – funds that directly support national healthcare programs and social services,” PTI added.
The institute also called for the institutionalization of a BIR-led illicit trade task force to ensure a more sustained and strategic approach to combating illicit tobacco.
“A dedicated task force focusing on enforcement, prevention and intelligence-sharing would strengthen the government’s ability to disrupt illicit networks and hold offenders accountable,” it said.
