Japan Tobacco International lauds government for clean up operations in Nueva Ecija

MANILA, Philippines — Cleanup drive conducted by authorities in Nueva Ecija, Japan Tobacco International (JTI) Philippines Inc. has lauded the Philippine government for its intensified fight against cigarette smuggling and counterfeiting in the country.

In a statement, JTI Philippines general manager Manos Koukourakis expressed his appreciation for a successful operation conducted by government authorities last March 16, which led to the seizure of counterfeit cigarettes at the Pamilihang Bayan ng Zaragosa in Nueva Ecija.

The operation was organized by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) – led by NBI Rizal district chief Migdonio Congzon Jr. – and the newly-created Strike Force of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) – led by Regional Investigation Division head Sonny Advincula.

The NBI and BIR teams went to the public market in Zaragosa armed with search warrants issued by Ethel Mercado-Gutay of the Regional Trial Court of Makati City, Branch 137 and mission orders from the BIR.

JTI said stall owners and tenants in the public market were visited and their tobacco products inspected.

According to the cigarette manufacturer, the authorities seized more than 220,000 sticks of counterfeit cigarettes, as well as packs without tax stamps, from only seven stores in the market.

These counterfeit cigarettes were bearing the brands of Mighty and Marvels, while those without the requisite BIR tax stamps were labeled as Winnboro.

Koukourakis said continued enforcements against counterfeiters and smugglers remain crucial in the country as it deprives the government of tax revenues.