Following simultaneous operations targeting the illegal tobacco trade, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said government operations are aimed at dismantling large-scale illegal operations, not punishing small retailers.

“Kaya namin ginawa ito dahil dapat na makita n’yo na ang kinukuha namin dito ay ang buong ecosystem ng illegal drugs. We are not anti-poor. We are anti-illegal tobacco,” Remulla stated.

The operations, conducted in active coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Agriculture (DA), and Bureau of Customs (BOC), led to the seizure of approximately 45,000 packs of untaxed cigarettes.

According to Remulla, these illegal trades caused an estimated basic tax deficiency of Php3.5 million, with total tax liabilities including penalties and surcharges, reaching around Php40 million, funds that could have been used to support the country’s healthcare system.

“The entire ecosystem has to be disrupted. Illegal tobacco is costing the government 30 billion pesos a year in lost taxes. The 30 billion pesos that goes to the healthcare of the Filipinos, nawawala lahat yan,” he said.

Remulla emphasized that small retailers are not the main targets. The campaign is focused on “bigger fishes”, particularly organized networks that manufacture, smuggle, and distribute untaxed products nationwide.

“We only want to file the minimum charges on them. Kasi naghahanap-buhay lang. It’s an honest day’s work. It’s just that they’re not paying taxes,” he clarified.

“We do not intend to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law kasi kawawa naman. But, yung big fish, manufacturers, smugglers, distributors, lahat yan, i-isa-isahin namin hanggang matapos namin lahat,” he further pointed out.