NBI: 13 face raps over alleged P13-B smuggled cigarettes

MANILA, Philippines — The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday filed an agricultural economic sabotage complaint against thirteen individuals allegedly involved in smuggling cigarettes worth P13 billion.

READ: BOC seizes over P1.17-B suspected smuggled cigarettes in Cebu port

According to NBI Director Melvin Matibag, the case stems from the 59 container vans seized by the agency from various ports in June.

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“What is peculiar in this case is that hindi ito katulad ng mga kasong mga driver o pahinante lang ang kinakasuhan natin, we are filing charges against at least 13 individuals, sinama natin ‘yung port operator ng private port nandoon sa GIS (General Information Sheet), that is the Gothong Family of Cebu, and ‘yung registered shipper,” said Matibag in a chance interview with reporters.

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(What is peculiar about this case is that, unlike previous cases where we only charged drivers or helpers, we are now filing charges against at least 13 individuals, including the operator of the private port as identified in its GIS, that is the Gothong family of Cebu and the registered shipper.)

Inquirer is withholding the names of the respondents to the complaint because the case is still under formal investigation.

All of them, however, were accused of violating Republic Act 12022 or the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act of 2024.

“We are filing this case so that it will send a signal that the government is serious in fighting agricultural smuggling … to protect our local farmers and also local industries who are paying taxes,” said Matibag.

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Matibag explained that several members of the Gothong family were included in the complaints after some of the smuggled cigarettes were seized at a private wharf owned by their company.

“We have intel reports na nakuha natin. Apparently, ang sinasabi dito … inililipat sa maliliit na ship, tapos dinadala sa private port, then from private port ishi-ship sa iba-ibang ports ngayon dito for distribution sa Pilipinas,” he said.

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(We have obtained intel reports indicating that the shipments are apparently transferred to smaller vessels and brought to a private port. From there, they are shipped to various ports across the country for distribution in the Philippines.)

“…Sa volume na ‘yon, imposible hindi mo nalalaman kung ano ‘yung pumasok … tsaka even sa local port na rin na privately operated ‘yung presence pa lang alone ng mga international containers, may markings yung mga containers, that should be a red flag already,” he added.

(Given that volume, it would be impossible for you not to know what was brought in. Even at a locally operated private port, the mere presence of international containers with identifiable markings should already be a red flag.)

Meanwhile, Matibag said the NBI is still looking into the possibility of law enforcement personnel being involved in the smuggling of the cigarettes.

“We are looking at that. Kung law enforcement, mas mataas dapat ‘yung pananagutan mo,” said Matibag.

(We are looking into that. If you are in law enforcement, you should be held to a higher standard of accountability.)

“Kaya very strict ngayon ang NBI. We are disciplining our ranks by dismissing them or putting them in preventive suspension kung meron silang mga involvement,” he added.

(That is why the NBI is being very strict now. We are disciplining our own ranks by dismissing or placing personnel under preventive suspension if they are found to be involved.)

Matibag said the seized cigarettes, worth around P13 billion, came from China bearing the name of European brands.

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“Actually this is, if not the biggest, one of the biggest agricultural [operation] ng enforcement sa Pilipinas (of Philippine enforcement),” he said. (with reports from Katherine Cielo Guimera Inquirer trainee) /gsg