In line with the administration’s crackdown of the illegal tobacco network in the country, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said today that raids against economic saboteurs, particularly the distributors and manufacturers within palengkes, will begin next week.

“Sa lahat ng palengke sa Pilipinas, pakiusap po, tumigil na kayo sa distribution nito (illegal cigarette). Kapag kayo ay maabutan namin, non-bailable ang magiging charge ninyo,” Remulla warned.

In a press conference in Tanza, Cavite, Remulla said that illegal tobacco peddlers still have one week to dispose of illegal goods they sell and to halt distributions before operations against peddlers begin.

The DILG, a member agency of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Council, reiterated that individuals involved in the sale and distribution of smuggled agricultural products are subject to severe penalties under the Republic Act No. 12022, or the Anti-Agricultural Sabotage Act.

Such a warning came after the Department conducted a scoping analysis to identify the middlemen in the proliferation of illegal tobacco in local markets which are the palengkes nationwide: “Ang distribution nyan didiretso sa distributor, dadalhin sa palengke papuntang sari-sari store. Yun po ang ecosystem ng illegal tobacco.”

Remulla reiterated that sari-sari stores engaged in illegal tobacco selling will only be shut down as they receive a minimum penalty while distributors will face non-bailable cases. “Pagdating sa mga distributors, manufacturers, non-bailable, to the full extent of the law, didiinan talaga namin sila,” he said.

He explained the grave economic damage dealt by illegal tobacco: “Nababawasan ang buwis para sa kapwa nating Pilipino. Ang pondo na para sana DOH, PGH, at lahat ng mga government hospitals.”

The DILG Chief shared that with ongoing operations, the cost of locally-produced tobacco in the provinces of Ilocos and Pangasinan increased, aiding farmers and the local industry. With this progress, Remulla is optimistic that 80 to 90 percent of the illegal cigarette trade in the country will be wiped out in the next three months.