P544-M worth of fake tax stamps seized

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

 

BACOLOD City – The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)-6 seized about P544 million worth of fake tax stamps hidden in a warehouse at Barangay Tangub here yesterday.

BIR-6 director Antonio Jonathan Jaminola led the operation along with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine Army.

Jaminola said nobody was inside the warehouse when they broke into the area along with barangay officials.

The team brought a mission order that authorized the raid.

Jaminola said they received information that fake cigarettes were allegedly manufactured there, but upon their arrival, several packages of fake tax stamps were found.

The team also found raw materials and packaging materials for cigarettes at the warehouse.

Jaminola also said that several fake cigarettes were recovered in one of the vehicles parked in the area.

However, they have yet to declare its amount as inventory is ongoing.

Jaminola said the fake cigarettes were probably ready to be sold in the markets.

“Medyo matagal-tagal na rin siguro ito,” he added.

All the recovered items were brought to BIR office for custody.

Jaminola said they have yet to identify the owner, who might be charged for tax evasion.

“Hangga’t merong magbibigay ng information ay tatrabahuin namin,” he said.

Tax stamps are affixed to cigarette packaging to indicate that the required taxes were already paid.